<p>Pass these on to your parents: </p>
<p>The University of Chicago doesn’t have campus security like most colleges; they actually have a police force, called the UCPD (University of Chicago Police Department). The UCPD is the 2nd largest private police force in the world, only behind the Vatican. The UCPD was actually expanded to protect all of Hyde Park, I believe because the town requested it. The University area is also regularly patrolled by the CPD, or the Chicago Police Department, so it’s double covered. There is a very large police presence on campus; they are not there to get you in trouble but to help and protect students. There are always police cars driving around or going around on bicycles. </p>
<p>There are Blue Light phones all over campus and Hyde Park. All students (male and female) are given personal safety whistles (or “rape whistles”) when they start school to blow if they don’t feel safe. All students and Hyde Park residents know to respond if they hear a whistle, and people do not blow them for fun. Hyde Park residents also have safety whistles.</p>
<p>Streets are well-lit at night, but it’s not necessary to walk at night. Campus shuttles run on routes all over campus and Hyde park until 6 AM on weekends and 2 AM on weekdays, and there is a late night shuttle service (or “drunk van”) available to take students door to door. There are police escorts and other services available as well. Almost any man on campus is wiling to walk girls home or stay with them until the shuttle or drunk van arrives. People travel in groups because that’s the smart thing to do in any part of the country at night, particularly while intoxicated. During the day buses run around Hyde Park until the shuttle service takes over in the evening, so students in dorms further from campus don’t need to walk, and other people can easily go to the grocery store or wherever when it’s cold or they don’t feel like walking.</p>
<p>The U of C had disaster plans before September 11th, Katrina, and the shootings at VA Tech. The plans were updated and re-evaluated after September 11th, but when they were looked at after VA Tech, it was determined that nothing needed to be added or changed. Safety alerts are posted all over campus whenever an incident is reported to the police. You can join a safety list-host in order to get emails of any crime near campus. </p>
<p>The House system on campus is a constant support system for students. The Resident Masters, Resident Heads (mainly these people), and Resident Assistants look out for students, keep an eye on their emotional state (and will intervene if they sense a problem), and take any students to the ER if necessary, as well as provide all around support. I have never heard of an alcohol death in a dorm, for example. </p>
<p>Dorm security is more extensive than other schools I know of. A front desk in every dorm is staffed 24 hours/day–no exceptions. They are not staffed by students, either, so no one gets a free pass. It is necessary to swipe your ID card to get into the dorm, and you must live in the dorm for your student ID to allow you in. You must show your ID to the person at the desk, who after a week or two will know every student in the dorm by face anyway. Any guests must be signed in and out. You must swipe your ID in other areas of the dorm, as well, but these vary by dorm (such as to get to the elevators). You must use a key or your ID to get into your room. You can only get into the dorm you live in without getting signed in by someone who lives in that dorm. I can’t go into the dorm named Pierce because that’s not the dorm I currently live in, even if I am a student. I would need someone who lives in Pierce to sign me in. </p>
<p>I’m sure there are other things that I’m forgetting.</p>