Current Yalies, why did U chose yale?

columbia2007
Sat, 12 Aug 2006 17:27:02 +0000

I really don’t want to be seen as spreading misinformation about New Haven. Perhaps Yalies can comment on the accuracy of this:

"New Haven’s crime rate has gone down considerably since the drug wars of the early 1990s, when automatic gunfire peppered the air on a daily basis. The city is safer now than in 1994 when the Latin Kings, New Haven-based African American gangs and drug dealers from Bridgeport and New York battled for turf in the cities’ impoverished neighborhoods. There was even a shootout between rival gangs in the cities’ heavily policed courthouse, as well as shootouts in front of the police station itself, gun battles at funerals and even violence at church services. Violence in New Haven was downplayed, officials in bed with Yale were doing so as Yales’ admissions shrunk with each year, as word of the cities’ violent nature spread. Today, despite a heavy police prescence, there is minimal risk involved with traveling to New Haven’s tourist attractions as the criminal element there has adapted to preying on unsuspecting tourists and Yale students/guests. Some problems with traveling Yale and downtown New Haven are that New Haven police are away busy fighting crime in New Haven’s neighborhoods while the Yale police have only five cruisers patrolling a very active downtown area and most visitors to New Haven are unsuspecting of the element there. Carjackings, muggings and purse snatchings are everyday occurences. Crimes perpetrated by youths on bicycles (bike gangs) are known to be carried out in broad daylight, especially in and around Yale. New Haven’s bike gangs may include youths as young as 10 and as old as 18, they have been known to travel in groups as small as 5, to 30 or more. Use common sense, if you are approached by youths on bikes just give them what you have, the worst thing you can do is try and be a hero its almost certain you will be shot, beaten, or stabbed. Even today, travel to the surrounding neighborhoods of New Haven without a purpose is illogical, crime is even worse, plus all the attractions are in the downtown area. Late night travel without someone who knows the area is not recommended. "