Is Urbana-Champaign a safe place to live? (Rome, Campus: crime, campus)

[alex5andra]

Hi I might be attending UIUC starting this fall.

Is the city safe in general? I live in Philadelphia now and feel uncomfortable walking around after it gets dark. And I certainly would like to avoid that.

Can you tell me if there are any areas that are not safe?
I see that there are many parks around the area. Are any of them dangerous to walk around?

Are there any other things I should know concerning safety?

[Maintainschaos]

Compared to Philly, CU is very safe.

[PenguinSix]

Ok, statistically UICU is nothing like Philly. You're going to feel a lot safer, save for the occasional drunk being an idiot after the bars close. I'm assuming you're going to be on campus for the first year or so at least which will make it even all the more laid back.

Now secondly, when you stop paying attention is when bad things happen. I'm not saying you'll need every ounce of awareness and street savvy that a Philly person has, but don't walk around thinking 'this isn't as bad as where I once was so I can have my head in the clouds' as that is just an invitation for something bad to happen.

Here is a campus area crime map for last YEAR (probably the same level a Philly area has in a month)

http://www.dps.uiuc.edu/crimemap/cm8-31-07.pdf

[M TYPE X]

Chambana is not Philly.

There is good and bad in that.
Less crime, but less entertainment opportunities.

... don't worry, people still get shot here.

[histo320]

Chambana is completely safe especially on campus. Females need to beware there is an occasional rape (usually on campus, at night, with unsuspecting females,) but not near as bad a philly. the north side of champaign and pockets of urbana can get bad at times.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by histo320

Chambana is completely safe especially on campus. Females need to beware there is an occasional rape (usually on campus, at night, with unsuspecting females,) but not near as bad a philly. the north side of champaign and pockets of urbana can get bad at times.

The above is a bit contradictory. Completely safe, with an occasional rape! No, CU probably isn't as bad as Philly, but that doesn't mean you've been any less raped! I lived there 7 yrs, don't know anyone that was raped, though I know a lot of people who were on juries for rape trials. Practically everyone I know who lived there (including me) had a bike stolen. I think it is the same on many college campuses. Lots of theft. College students are not always as careful as they should be about locking up bikes, rooms, etc. Make sure your belongings are insured and lock up your apt, your bike, your car, and so forth.

[gingerbookgoddess]

Overall, Champaign Urbana is safe. Some parts are safer than others. Night is a large period of time. A lot of crime, especially sex crimes, tend to occur in the wee hours of the morning. There are things like safe rides on campus so one doesn't have to walk alone. Theft can be a concern all over the area-- good security practices and keeping ones eyes opened can be helpful. There is crime, including violent murders, etc. But the number isn't great. I feel safe walking all over CU, including the "bad" neighborhoods, during the day. Those areas are improving over time as well. At night, caution should be exercised on campus and in the parks, but it is a safe town. The parks are nice for strolling through-- I like the sculpture garden at meadowbrook, myself.

[calidude]

champaign is kewl i stayed there with my uncle a few summers ago univiersity and try garcias pizza good stuff cousin goes to a magnet school there its in a black neighborhood theres a few of them but overall champaign is kewl

[Paxtonian]

Champaign is a walk in the park compared to Philly- but one can still find trouble there.
Campus areas have a high burglary rate, and there is a murder now and then, usually something random. An Italian girl got killed on campus by a Canadian some years ago. The papers in Rome kept going on and on about America's culture of violence(!). The Canuck was nuts, he killed himself right after the murder.

[Drover]

Heh... European perceptions of violence in the U.S. are kind of funny, as if we all live in one giant war zone or something.