<p>Levitt teaches a class called “The Economics of Crime,” which I want to take just to get some understanding on these scenarios.</p>
<p>I also think we are asking different questions. A “safe” neighborhood is not necessarily the same as “feeling safe.”</p>
<p>First of all, crime happens all the time, everywhere, and being in a ritsy suburb or a cornfield will not prevent you from burglary, muggings, etc. Your surroundings may look nicer, but you don’t have a bubble around yourself. Crime happens more in cities, but that’s a fact of urban living.</p>
<p>I have friends at schools all around the country. Some in cities. Some in ritsy suburbs. Some in cornfields. None of them think it wise to walk by themselves at night, nor do I think it wise for Chicagoans to be wandering around by themselves at night. I’ll admit that I do walk alone at night on occasion, but when I do, I’m more or less on the quads and I’m extremely aware of my surroundings. I have yet to run into any problems.</p>
<p>Secondly, “feeling safe” has a lot to do with our experiences and where we’ve lived before. For somebody coming from a white community, Hyde Park may feel “unsafe” simply because of its large African-American population. Cottage Grove may feel “unsafe” because it doesn’t have the University presence. Stony Island Ave. and Jackson Park may feel “unsafe” because they’re wide. 59th St and 60th st. may feel “unsafe” because there are a lot of blue lights.</p>
<p>Again, my parents felt fine shipping me off, partly because they themselves had gone to schools in grittier neighborhoods, partly because they knew about my love affair with the U. of C., and partly because they talked to many alumni and students who assured them I’d be alright.</p>