By Caroline Strack —
The city of Louisville has been my home for the past 20 years. I know which streets are one-way and which streets have the best parking. I also know which areas of town are considered safe and which are considered dangerous.
It wasn’t a lesson I learned completely on my own. My mom’s parents grew up in Louisville and know where every single street leads to. They’ve watched certain parts of the city grow less and less safe. They warned me as soon as I could drive on my own about which parts of town to avoid.
When they found out I would be attending U of L, my grandmother bought me a can of mace to carry in my backpack.
A man was shot at The Arch apartments, very close to campus. I received the RAVE alert through my U of L email and wasn’t even surprised by what I read.
The RAVE alert system is brilliant, but at times, is just as discouraging as the statistics of crime in Louisville.
It is becoming commonplace to have these kinds of emails popping up in our inboxes.
Students are becoming used to the idea that we can never truly know if we are in a safe place down on campus.
I understand that many these crimes don’t happen on U of L’s campus, therefore our campus security might be incredible.
The report from College Choice places U of L at a 100 percent on women’s safety and anti-discrimination.
Louisville is only safer than six percent of cities around the United States, though. This should concern both current and prospective students.
It is our city crime rates, especially those immediately surrounding campus, that should worry us.
I feel safe as soon as I enter my U of L bubble, but am on edge as soon as I leave it.
I truly love my university, which I feel is a safe and comfortable learning place if the sun is up.
What I don’t love is the crime that perpetuates my city and surrounds my campus. I hate the fact that this year’s homicide rate is already set to surpass last year’s.
My hope in the future is that the city crime rates drop, the fear lessens and I can finally throw out that can of mace.
Photo by Joseph Lyell / The Louisville Cardinal
