<p>Going back to earlier statements, this is not an area where only married, international or grad students live; my son is an undergraduate and lives very close by with a houseful of undergrads and other undergrads live all around them. It is just as much a part of the USC area as any and living there does not mean you deserve problems. I’ve grown tired over the last couple of years of the way people characterize neighborhoods that are home to LA residents who work for a living and students who don’t have the money to live in upscale apartments or houses. If you’re uncomfortable with a city and its residents go to school in rural Ohio.</p>
<p>That said, my son thankfully was asleep when this happened and was not at the party. I am not worried about this neighborhood more than any others around USC. Simply avoiding living west will not eliminate your security problems. This is an urban area all around and you have to be smart all the time about how you act and what venues you frequent. My son had a bike stolen from a locked garage under a USC-owned apartment building so just living in university housing guarantees nothing.</p>