<p>There is no question that the school is located in a more challenged urban area and many threads had lengthy discussions about it. However, my take of it, after being there for only 3 days, is that the school is in an urban area not worse than many urban schools, such as JHU or Penn. And if you want to, go to Pratt in Brooklyn and see it yourself.</p>
<p>I’d say if the campus polices have to carry MP5, it must be triggered by some incident that requires such attention. I cannot imaging and have not seen they carry MP5 all the time on a regular duty, in the current environment on campus.</p>
<p>I regularly travel to much challenging urban neighborhoods than what I saw in the surrounding areas of UofC, namely the streets beyond 63rd. And I think the University has spend a lot of efforts to improve security by hiring extra University Police and other measures stated by OP. As a result, the stats provided by another poster show no major crime on campus for the last few years.</p>
<p>“Feel Safe” is very subjective and personal. One can feel not safe in middle of a corn field, otoh, others can walk on Bowry in NYC and jump over those drunk on the sidewalk and still function without fear. If OP cannot feel safe in such an evironment that UOC provides, then the school is not for you.</p>