Are Tech, GSU and AU students under the gun?
I have a friend whose son is a freshman at Georgia State. Like my son, her 18-year-old is a night owl. But while my son is wandering a small, rural campus in the Midwest at midnight on weekends, her son is walking around downtown Atlanta. And he now tells his mom he’s bought a knife because he’s had some threatening encounters – or at least encounters that appeared to be threatening — walking back to his dorm.
The AJC has reporting another robbery of a college student in the downtown area, this time a GSU student held up by gunpoint heading back to his dorm shortly after midnight. (Recently, there was a story about an armed robbery near Tech, but it was not a student.)
With this months tragic shooting of a Spelman student and the spate of robberies around Tech, I have to ask: Are college students- with their penchant for late-night wanderings — safe at downtown campuses?
Let me add here that I went to graduate school in New York City and had many uncomfortable moments as I often took the subway home at night. (I had a 9 a.m. seminar where my classmates voted to meet at 8 at night instead. So, I was commuting at 11 at night.)
I have worked in downtown Atlanta for 20 years without a single menacing incident. I loved going to school in New York and I love working downtown.
However, as a parent I am not sure that I would want my children in an urban setting sampling all the new freedoms that come with college life. (That includes midnight runs for roast beef subs and Krispy Kremes.)
For those of you with children on urban campuses such as Tech, the Atlanta University schools or GSU, are you worried and can you make your kids understand why? A Wednesday news story asks the same question.
UPDATE: Speaking of students tripping up on their newfound freedoms and making questionable choices, here is a story about a UGA student who was assaulted after accepting a ride at one in the morning from a man she thought was a cabbie. The common theme here is not an urban campus — although Athens is certainly growing — but the risks that students take.
POSTSCRIPT ON THURSDAY MORNING: I was just at GSU and was stunned at the law enforcement presence. I asked one officer why there were so many bicycle patrols and foot officers around the college. “I’m wondering the same thing,” he told me. (I was just telling my colleagues about this and one commented, “They should be there at midnight.” I agree and hope that is the case.
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87 comments Add your comment
ScienceTeacher671
September 8th, 2009
7:22 am
re: your friend’s son – the phrase “bringing a knife to a gunfight” comes to mind…
jim d
September 8th, 2009
7:40 am
All the more reason to allow 18 year olds to purchase handguns and obtain carry permits.
Will Jones - Atlanta
September 8th, 2009
7:47 am
Civilization pivots on urban culture, where Science and Industry, Art, Culture and Education amplify and redound to the benefit of vibrant and diverse Society.
For this observer, of some age, Atlanta is the wheelhorse and pinnacle of America’s highest and best hope for a restored Republic, Political Economy, and Constitution.
Our martyred hometown prophet, Dr. King, stands shoulder-to-shoulder with America’s Author, Founder, and Prophet Thomas Jefferson, from whose utopian whig “book” Dr. King orated to get himself killed by what Mr. Jefferson identified with specificity as “the real Anti-Christ,” whose core is the church into which most “Maureen Downey’s” are born.
How “interesting” that the AJC has a reporter named “Maureen Downey” trying to hoist Atlanta on her petard of “urban crime” when Knight of Malta-grandson Bush’s and Cheney’s treason of 9/11 is known by virtually all who come here for study and enlightenment – yet not by one with notions as to “Get Schooled.”
Rail against the Nazis who wish to keep the anointed Barack Obama off-balance to avoid prosecution of Bush and Cheney.
Rid Atlanta of its corrupt administration and police chief: how does “Maureen” think we became “the Wal-Mart for heroin for the Southeast?” Does she not know it comes from Afghanistan or that the Taliban had ended the production of opium poppies prior to the bumper crops harvested since Bush’s “Reichstag Fire” of 9/11? Or that Bush’s grandfather was Hitler’s banker? Or that his father “can’t recall” his whereabouts upon hearing of John Kennedy’s assassination?
Had Jackie “O” raised her fatherless son a warrior, a dozen witnesses to his plane’s explosion off Martha’s Vineyard wouldn’t have had a story to be ignored by other mothers ignorant of the means by which evil can and ought to be addressed.
Get Schooled, “Maureen.” Or let your fear or subversion of Atlanta overcome you – perhaps you should join your son in the midwest and leave Atlanta – to the valiant and righteous – to American Patriots with a clue.
David
September 8th, 2009
8:18 am
Students in Downtown and Midtown Atlanta are as safe as they’ve ever been, and always been. While I was at Tech a few years ago, we had probably 15 armed robberies in the four years I was there. Once Tech took over the old Olympic Village, which has enough structural problems to make it a bad idea, crime against Tech students went up. And there’s been crime against students and residents of Home Park as long as I can remember. College campuses in urban environments are prone to crime, and always have been. College students are easy targets, from credit card companies to common criminals, and people know that. It’s an unfortunate fact of life for college students in Atlanta, the APD are too overstretched and undermanned, let alone mismanaged and poorly led, to be able to do anything. Campus police are the ones that have been stepping up, and I feel lucky that Tech police did, and continue to do, a pretty good job in their jurisdiction (campus). But they can only do so much.
Parents should be worried about their kids at Georgia Tech, GSU and the AU schools, but no more so than they were before the press finally caught up to the crime. All you can do is tell your kids (the students) to not be idiots about when they’re out, and make sure they aren’t walking around an urban area at night by themselves. If you don’t put a bullseye on your back, you’re a harder target. Just be sensible, which is asking a lot of college students, I know that.
vasily
September 8th, 2009
8:44 am
Lets not fool ourselves. We have made it illegal for law abiding citizens to protect themselves on college campuses or within 1000 feet of them. And then we are shocked when we learn that violent crime takes place on or near college campuses.
Making universities, or any other places, gun free zones ensures that only criminals will be armed and law abiding civilians will be helpless sheep who will be robbed, raped, and murdered by the wolves of society.
Get educated. Visit http://www.concealedcampus.org/ and learn about a grassroots movement by college students, faculty, and concerned parents.
Jeff
September 8th, 2009
9:10 am
I’m with vasily. Even Tasers are considered ‘firearms’ under GA law, and they are a solid “less than lethal” option. The C2 variant that is sold to consumers is actually STRONGER than the ones sold to cops, and is designed to allow the person firing it to fire, quickly detach the cartridge, and RUN! It also has an anti-felon ID system that spreads confetti-like ID markers when the cartridge is fired, meaning that any cop that comes upon the scene will be able to track back to the person who fired the C2 and find out what happened.
AtlantaPeach
September 8th, 2009
9:20 am
It is time for cameras in the areas that continue to get hit. Seems like a no-brainer to me. And to Will Jones – huh????????
White Mike
September 8th, 2009
10:14 am
“Are Tech, GSU and AU students under the gun?”
Only past midnight, while walking the streets alone. Dumbass students might as well be wearing a sign “Jack me–I’m easy”.
WM
Yes I'm Worried
September 8th, 2009
10:17 am
The current Atlanta administration will say anything while the cameras are running but they won’t do anything. They are just waiting to get out of office.
As for Will Jones rantings: Please consider taking your meds, reality is calling you back to planet Earth!
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
10:20 am
I think part of the issue that crime is so evident now is because of the economic picture. GSU, Tech and AUC students need to be much more vigilant and limit their night exposure. If they must go out, they need to go out in groups, as one person who may commit a crime will not attempt to do it with many people around. Students need to stay away from dark places as well. Finally, students need not carry too many valuable devices as this puts a stamp on you saying ‘rob me!’
I’m a college student going to Southern Polytechnic in Cobb County. Even up here in the suburbs, we are having weird things taking place at night. What is going on at downtown schools is not really surprising. However, the news coverage of it seems to make people think that Downtown and Midtown are grossly dangerous and I don’t believe that is the case.
LL
September 8th, 2009
10:21 am
I went to Georgia Tech and never had a problem – we just always walked home with another person if it was late at night and used a little common sense (walk where there are streetlights, walk through campus, don’t look distracted, etc.). I think the media is highlighting ANYTHING in the vicinity of Tech as a “Tech shooting” or “Tech robbery” just to make it a better headline – but none of these incidents have actually happened on campus. All have happened in areas that everyone who goes to Tech knows are not as safe (for example, homepark and centennial homes area have always had crime and break-ins). These schools are in Atlanta, and Atlanta is a big city and has crime, but I think as long as the students have some common sense and stay aware of their surroundings, they will be fine.
JJM
September 8th, 2009
10:25 am
I’d be willing to bet it is much safer to walk around the streets of New York at night versus the streets of Atlanta these days. I dont really care for Rudy Giuliani but he did clean up the crime in NY. We have the leaders of the city to thank for high crime. Officials can manipulate numbers however they want – the bottom line is that downtown Atlanta is not safe for students. If that has not become abundantly clear these past few weeks I’m not sure what else needs to happen. Richard Pennington and Shirley Franklin can play both sides of the fence if they want to but they are not performing where performance is due in this area.
Atlanta needs a John Wayne type of character to come in here and clean up the city – especially areas surrounding downtown campuses. Google Lt. General Honroe in regards to Hurricane Katrina. Activity and achievement are two different things and we need some achievement. Things started happening when this guy arrived in New Orleans to cut the crap and make progress. Of course our situation pales in comparison to what happened in New Orleans but Atlanta needs somebody that can take charge and make strides towards reducing crime. Not some flake off that gets paid to make things “less bad”.
Alex
September 8th, 2009
10:29 am
This absolutely cracks me up. I watch the news every night and there are daily shootings by the thugs in the city. Why are they like this? Why constantly kill, sell drugs, rob people, etc? Imagine Tech/GSU or Atlanta in general if it were a mostly white city? It would be amazing. The thugs have already ruined Buckhead and Atlantic Station. I guess Midtown and The Highlands are next. Thanks guys!
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
10:32 am
I was born and raised in New York City. Yes, Manhattan is for the most part safe to walk around at night. But not other areas of the city. There’s parts of Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx that I would not walk around at night.
In an attempt to be fair in evaluating the situation, are these students walking down the street flaunting their devices? Some people walk down the street with the stereotypical iPod headset; people walk down the street with their phone in their hand; perhaps the people were wearing something that cost some money which makes them a fair target. There are so many different ways to look at the situation that may give off that the person had something valuable on them. However, if these people can look as nondescript as possible, they minimize their chances of being robbed.
Now I do believe that Atlanta can do more to protect these areas, as these robberies and other crimes against students will ultimately keep college students from attending college in the city- and that would be a shame since the city is such a dynamic environment. Surely something can be done to make the area safer. But at the same time, us college students must realize that we are not invincible and things will happen and we must protect ourselves accordingly.
Truth2009
September 8th, 2009
10:32 am
As a man that worked Techwood homes when they were there, i was always surprised MORE incidents didn’t happen. You don’t understand the mentality of the majority of the black males out there. Its a morally bankrupt culture due to the stupidity they play over the airwaves. Its the same from Decatur to Clayton to West/East and especially South Atlanta.
I always thought the people that moved to the nice houses in the Turner Field area in South Atlanta were especially stupid. Just because they tore down the projects don’t you think these cats are gonna come back to their old stomping ground where their familiar with and scope out victims?
Heres some tips that might be helpfull in the city.
1. Don’t use your overhead light unless absolutely necessary.
2. Always mapquest where your going so you don’t get lost.
3. Act like you know where your going and hold your head up.
4. Know that there ARE times to be sterotypical…. if you see 2 or 3 young black males sitting in a car you might wanna park somewhere else and avoid that part of the parking lot/etc…. Gluck to yall…. remember… its not racism if its realism.
Ozzy
September 8th, 2009
10:38 am
Will Jones – Atlanta-
I think you forgot your Prozac this morning. You’re pontificating from the pulpit located in your own mind.
No one is to blame for Atlanta’s problems but the leadership of Atlanta, and the citizens of Atlanta that keep electing buffoons to run the city.
Black culture has created and perpetuates the type of animals that now prowl Atlanta’s streets. The best thing we can do is put a 40 caliber bullett between those animal’s eyeballs when given half a chance.
That and convince ignorant young black women to keep their thighs together until they’ve found a half decent black man to marry and have kids with. Not an easy task for them these days – (finding a half decent black man to marry, or keeping their thighs together apparently) I’ll grant you that.
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
10:43 am
Truth2009: I do not like the fact that you say the ‘majority of black males out there.’ I myself am a black male. I do not like to be clumped in the category that you are discussing. Furthermore, exactly when did race and sex come into the discussion? No wonder why we cannot have a civilized discussion on any AJC forum without this issue coming up.
But since we are on this topic, let me inform you of something. I didn’t grow up in the best environment in New York City… I grew up in a inner city neighborhood. The area was better than some others but not the best area, as drug deals and stuff still happened in the vicinity. But my parents had a vision- and my parents executed their vision and brought it to fruition.
HOWEVER… not all parents have the type of faith and resolve my parents did to make sure my brother, sister and I would have things better than they had when they grew up. Not all parents have the same tools at their disposal like my parents were able to achieve. Many people DO NOT understand that the issue plaguing communities such as Pittsburgh, English Avenue, and Bankhead is not as clearcut as they think.
Some of these parents have fought all their lives and are tired of fighting and gave up. Perhaps there is nobody to really work with them to make a difference in their lives. There is a psychological element that exists that locks some of these people in these communities. I do not believe there are many people out there (if any) that are really willing to address the REAL, underlying emotional and psychological questions. Sure, anyone can put on a front that they don’t care, they love to drink, smoke, etc- but there HAS to be a reason for someone to get to that point- they just don’t get there.
I suggest you pick your words carefully.
Tim Teeball
September 8th, 2009
10:44 am
As a GSU student in the ’80s, I regularly walked from campus to the Five Pts. Station and
caught the train home, at night. It’s not that far of a walk, but it would scare the shhheeeit
out of most white folk in metro Atlanta. This was before the re-development of Underground,
and most nights it was like a ghost town in that area. In the years I frequented downtown
Atlanta, I never had even a threat. I took some computer courses in the early ’90s there
too. I remember one time I left the computer lab at around 1 a.m. on a Sunday morning.
On the way home, after driving up Marietta St. a ways, I came to an area that was completely
swamped with black partying and cruising. There I was, the only white person in sight, cruising
at 1 mph along with the rest of the vehicles, most having people hanging out of them. I could’ve been invisible as far as they were concerned. Nobody paid any attention to me. I cruised through the mess and went home. Oh, I also was stuck downtown on foot the day of the Rodney King riots here in town. It was mayhem. A group of black thugs beat a white businessman nearly to death outside the Omni. Last I heard, he was still a veggie. I saw more than a few blacks getting whipped up into a violent mood, including a couple of security guards working at GSU who seemed to want to get in on the fun. Hey I guess I’m rambling a little here, but the truth is, a lot of black folk I run into are as polite as most other people. The thing is, when they are bad, they can be really bad. Fortunately, I’ve never personally run into these yet, e.g. teenagers packing pistols who’d whack me for $20.
Maureen Downey
September 8th, 2009
10:52 am
Folks, Race finds a way into many blogs here, My instinct is to delete the racist comments, but posters have told me in the past that they want them included. Please let me know what you think.
I have to point that thefts and break-ins are rising in many rural areas as well. Crime is influenced by the economy everywhere.
Maureen
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
11:00 am
Maureen,
I believe in First Amendment rights even though some of the racist comments that people put on here are very unnerving. While I hate to read such comments, blocking them would ultimately breed more insensitivity. It is a disgrace that adults cannot have a civilized discussion about topics such as these without such commentary being inserted into the conversation.
There is a lack of decorum on these forums. People should not say things on internet forums like this if they are not willing to say it face to face with another person.
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
11:04 am
Maureen: On your other comment- I totally agree. The economy affects everyone and it is also affecting the rural areas. I wonder how much of that played into the Brunswick murders in coastal Georgia. When people believe they have no way out of a situation, they may resort to the unthinkable. With that in mind, I believe this applies to the downtown robberies as well.
White Mike
September 8th, 2009
11:08 am
We live in a colorbind society. Crime cuts across all racial communities.
Lee
September 8th, 2009
11:11 am
Crime in Atlanta? Surely you jest…. (Or Shirley you jest is more appropriate)
My perception is this:
During the daytime normal business hours, the downtown and midtown business corridors are heavily patrolled by both APD and the Ambassador Corps. You’re probably as safe as can be expected in an urban environment.
After the worker bees go home, the city starts to transform a bit. Now then, the hotels, sports venues, and other business that stay open hire squads full of off duty police officers to maintain order around their little piece of paradise. When these off duty officers are not busy beating down sickly looking history professors, they do a pretty good job of keeping the riff raff run off.
In all other areas, especially from dusk to dawn, you’re own your own. All those nice urban outdoorsmen you see sleeping in the parks and doorways come to life during this time, and they need some dope money. If you happen to be a naive college student wandering around during this time, they’ll take what you have, thankyouverymuch.
Being armed, having pepper spray, or walking in groups may or may not help. The GSU student who got robbed the other day was accosted by five punks – one of whom was armed. Add to the mix that most college students are naive and usually are yakking away on a cell phone and not paying attention, you’ve got some easy pickin’s.
Bottom line, there is no way in hell I would allow a child of mine to attend GSU or Tech.
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
11:13 am
White Mike: Totally agree. I wish other people would share that same thought. Given human nature, crime is unavoidable.
Be-Ryan
September 8th, 2009
11:15 am
As a former Tech student in the late 90’s, I can say that there has always been crime around campus as others have stated. Home Park, Techwood Homes, Northside Drive/Marietta St borders have always had crime. I nearly was mugged once but a GT police officer was cruising by and scared the thug off. It has nothing to do with race and more to do with socio-income status. The fact that a large number of these muggings and robberies have been performed by “young black males” is coincidence in that a large portion of the populace that is poor in Atlanta is black and the gangs reach for the young men because they are easily impressionable. Sorry to say it but it is true. I felt safe in the Georgia Tech area my entire time there, even the near-mugging (which I know was coming because the attacker had a knife and was running towards me before running across Tech Parkway, Marietta Street and into the railway tracks), and even ventured to a couple of the Freaknik events. I always felt safe and it didn’t matter if the people were white, black, etc. People have to realize that in down economic times, the poor get hungrier because the middle class and wealthy reduce their donations. When they get hungrier, violence escalates to make up for the loss. Hence, more crime. I have a better idea, similar to what has been stated before. Women of all races need to keep their legs together until a father who can raise the child is secure. Men need to stop running around fertilizing the women and then running off. And the welfare system as a whole needs to be revamped. If you are on welfare, you need to work; I.E. a job, occupation, return to society some of that investment we have paid to you. As it stands now, it is rewarding those who have the most children, have the least desire to want to work, then requires nothing in return. Teach all of America a little hard work goes a long way. And Atlanta needs a new mayor, not just another lack luster body appearing to do things (When was the last time anyone spotted a “Pothole Patrol”?) Increase the public safety (fire, police, ambulance) and decrease the fat butts sitting in office chairs doing nothing. There is your deficit reduction right there. Basically, don’t be dumb, don’t be a racist jack-hole, and increase the police presence in the city and you can solve a lot of the crime ravaging this great city.
Kitty Conrad
September 8th, 2009
11:18 am
GSU’s crime isn’t getting its share of the publicity. It’s not just a midnight issue either. My 22-y/o GSU student, not wearing an iPod and not talking on his cell phone, was robbed at 10:30 p.m. by an urban camper who wasn’t happy with the dollar volunteered when the urban camper asked for money.
When I was a GSU student in the early 1970s, Hurt Park was a place we went to for rest, relaxation and studying. Now it is a cesspool of urban campers and thugs, unusable by students.
The following is from the Atlanta Police Department’s website, first paragraph: “With an authorized strength of over 1786 sworn officers, the Atlanta Police Department is the largest law enforcement agency in the State of Georgia. A full-service police agency, the Department has adopted a community oriented philosophy and relies heavily upon community input and collaborative problem-solving strategies. It is through heightened community involvement in public safety matters that the Atlanta Police Department will most effectively address its three major priorities of (1) youth-related crime, (2) domestic violence, and (3) the perception of crime in Atlanta.”
http://www.atlantaga.gov/Government/Police.aspx
The third most important priority is perception? To be solved by community involvement? There, ladies and gentlemen, is your problem. I say screw the perception, get the police onto the street and the criminals, thugs and urban campers off the street.
Ozzy
September 8th, 2009
11:25 am
Ignore the fact that greater than 60% of children born to black mothers are raised with no father around if you want. Continue to believe that there is no correlation between that fact and the overwhelming number of crimes committed by young black males in America today if you want.
Scream racisim from the rooftops every time the facts are brought up. It doesn’t change the facts.
Stick your head in the sand some more if you want, but deep down you know that Bill Cosby and even Obama are correct. It’s a sad state of affairs in the black community these days, and the criminal behavior of the products of those single parent homes are infecting our streets. They are destined to a “life” of crime, drugs, alchohol and prison.
They are and will continue to be nothing but a burden to society, and that’s not going to change until there is a wholesale shift in accepted behavior in the black community, and parental responsibilities are recognized and lived up to.
Tim Teeball
September 8th, 2009
11:26 am
Maureen, I’m a little curious. Do you consider my post one of the “racist” ones? OTOH, do you consider AeroNautica saying he is a black man racist also, or it that different? Do you try to play along with the PC mythology that race does not exist, at least in some instances? Do you not believe the attack on the white businessman I alluded to was racist in nature? Or should it not be mentioned because of the race of the perps, and the race of the victim? Do you realize that some people would consider YOU racist for sending your son to a “rural Midwestern” school instead of to one in Atlanta? Will this post make it onto the blog?
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
11:27 am
Be-Ryan… well said comment. The issue eventually boils down to the raw elements of employment in the city’s poorer areas and the emotional and psychological issues in the poorer areas of the city. Either the people committing the crimes are homeless and living near the tracks in the city or they live in the poorer sections of the city.
The immediate issue that the city needs to address is having more police. However, the longer term issue is the poorer areas of the city- what can be done to bring these areas from being so poor to more on the middle class level.
Sees the future
September 8th, 2009
11:33 am
Any of you been to Detroit recently? In buildings downtown, some businesses have replaced the glass with cinderblocks (I guess they got tired of replacing broken glass?) and the doors have bars over them with buzzers that customers have to press to be allowed inside. People roll through the redlights rather than stop because they are afraid they’ll be attacked at the red lights. After business hours, even the cockroaches run and hide. It can get that bad here too, if we let it.
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
11:38 am
Kitty… that’s amazing. Perception can be resolved by being visible and keeping people from getting mugged, raped, assaulted and murdered. That’s where the APD needs improvement.
AtlantaPeach
September 8th, 2009
11:43 am
I agree with AeroNautica. Ms. Downey should not censor the posts, but it is truly disappointing that so many people are so blatantly racist (at least when they can be anonymous.)
jim d
September 8th, 2009
11:50 am
1) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
2) A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the PEOPLE to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
jim d
September 8th, 2009
11:53 am
Just consider what it would be like if all the racist comments were held in check and the folks holding these views were not able to voice them. They are at the very least out in the open where we can attempt to deal with them.
Terry B
September 8th, 2009
11:53 am
Shirley Franklin and Chief Pennington are doing a poor job of keeping Atlantans safe.
That’s it plain and simple. Crime is up and they are sitting in their offices just waiting until their last days in office to arrive . . . doing absolutely nothing.
The crime here is ridiculous. I thought it was just my neighborhood, but more and more as I talk to people, I have begun to realize that there is a serious problem going on here and it is much much worse than we realize.
I call on someone to just pull the records and do an analysis of all of the crimes that are hitting Atlanta. Would the media in Atlanta (AJC, WSB, whoever) please just get together and publicize how bad it is here? It’s time for a weeklong+ look at this and then do an analysis of where the police are being deployed & an analysis of how many crimes they are actually solving.
For example, in the past week on the Martin Luther King corridor we have seen the following – Murder at the cleaners (where the grandmother was killed); robbery at the Family Dollar; and student from Spelman killed at CAU (approx 100 feet from MLK).
This is ridiculous!! I think that we should encourage a boycott of all conventions and tourist events to Atlanta until the crime is cleaned up (that should get someone’s attention) because afterall any convention that comes to town would just pull away from our already tapped resources . . . >:)
I also think that the students from all the schools should join together and protest with a march down Peachtree. It won’t solve the problem, but hopefully it will draw national attention to the problem and impact convention attendance, enrollment at the universities, businesses who move into Atlanta and also people who are thinking about moving downtown.
Since my voice doesn’t seem to count, maybe the voices of the masses will.
It’s not just the students that are suffering, it’s the residents as well.
I could go on and on, but the apathy of the current Atlanta administration is reprehensible.
I voted for Shirley Franklin in the last election and everyday I wish that I could take my vote back. (I’ll save my rant on how she has reduced city services for another day.)
She has three policemen guarding her and we can’t get that amount in our neighborhood on a good day.
And for those of you that for some reason get caught up in race – I am black, I went to school at one of the downtown schools and I live in Atlanta. And no, I will NOT be voting for more of the same come election day.
jim d
September 8th, 2009
11:57 am
Ms. Downey,
I know there is a lot of separation in our views on gun control. I would just point out that unless we can assure that criminals don’t have weapons then we must allow law abiding citizens the right to protect themselves. To me that would include 18 year olds.
oldtimer
September 8th, 2009
11:58 am
People, students need to use common sense in town at night. We taught our children to always go places in groups and always travel only well-light places. Even going to college in the 60s we were taught that.
That being said the Atlanta Police need to take lessons from the New York Police. They became very visable and NYC became safer for everyone.
oldtimer
September 8th, 2009
12:00 pm
Oh, about censorship. I vote no…but, then when I begin to read a post that is offensive….in any matter…. I choose not to read it.
J
September 8th, 2009
12:02 pm
I’m a GSU grad, single female, and also worked downtown for 2 years before graduate school. During my time at GSU, I learned a few things about being prepared and staying aware, which ultimately helped me stay safe, both at school and at work:
1. If you’re going to wander at night, stay aware of your surroundings. I know that my roommates and I always wandered up to the Aderhold building for a late-night snack during stressful times of the year, and our wandering route took us straight through Woodruff Park and other “shady” areas on the campus. If you’re going to walk around downtown at night, make sure you’re aware of your surroundings at all times. Stay near lit areas and don’t let your guard down, especially with so many robberies happening around the campuses.
1.5. The other alternative, of course, is just not to wander downtown at night for any reason. With the new dorms, students have a Landmark Diner and quick-stop-store right there, with a gas station across the street (well-lit and usually patrolled by GSU and APD cops). There’s no real reason that students “need” to be wandering downtown at midnight, unless they really really want to. If you really feel the NEED to wander, do it safely.
2. Even in daylight, pay attention to what’s happening around you. It doesn’t matter if it’s day or night, you need to pay attention to what’s happening around you. Keep an eye out for anything that looks suspicious and avoid that area. GSU especially, having such an urban campus, has a few sketchy areas in broad daylight. Just pay attention to where you’re walking and who’s walking around you.
3. Walk with a group of students. This I learned my first and second year of college while living in the Lofts downtown; if you’re going to walk somewhere downtown, after dark, make sure it’s more than just yourself who’s wandering. Take a friend or a few friends with you – make it a social outing to walk to the diner, or to grab a snack at Krispy Kreme (which is on North Ave and shouldn’t be walked to from downtown anyways…). It’s more fun with more friends, and there’s a better chance that you’ll stay safe in a larger group.
4. If you’re working late in one of the campus buildings, keep the doors closed and don’t let anyone in the building who you don’t know, or who doesn’t present proper ID. This happened a few times while I was earning my degree; when I took a film production class, we needed to shoot and edit our film late at night, which meant long nights in the General Classroom building. Now normally, you’re not able to enter General Classroom after regular hours UNLESS you have a student ID. The problem was that some of the doors were broken, or could easily be opened from the inside by pushing on the glass. Once or twice a homeless man would wander over and ask to be let in – while none of us let him in, it’s still something that happened. If someone comes asking to be let into the building, ask to see their student ID – it provides identification and you can inform the person that they should be able to enter the building using that ID. If they don’t HAVE a student ID, or they claim that they’ve lost it, the most logical thing to do would be to find campus security and have them deal with it. Now when I was a student, we could generally tell who belonged on campus and who didn’t, and could make spot-judgments. But with these armed robberies popping up on both Tech and GSU’s campus, it’s a better idea to let the security people handle it rather than taking a chance that you’re letting a robber in the building. When in Doubt, call Campus Security. They give freshmen the number on the first day of orientation.
5. Carry a light source if you have to walk somewhere dark. I never actually did this during school, but learned it when I started working downtown at a pawn shop. Our parking lot had a few lights out in the back where employees parked, and while we all left together it was nice to be able to see where I was going. If you’re going to walk into a dark area, whether it’s just crossing the area to get somewhere, or whether it’s to get to your car, carry a small pocket light source so that you can see into the shadows. It always pays to know where you’re going, even if it’s in a supposedly “safe” area of the campus.
6. When in Doubt, Call Campus Security. It’s a mantra they beat into our heads the first 2 years of college. Campus Security does more than just protect the campus at night or during the day; if you’re nervous walking from one building to another, or you’re far away from your car and don’t feel comfortable walking there, campus security will offer an escort – as far as I understood it, the security comes with a van or an officer and escorts you where you need to go.
The main thing for downtown students to remember is BE AWARE. It doesn’t matter what school you go to – all of the downtown Atlanta college campuses have some shady or sketchy areas that surround them. This isn’t some small, Midwestern school that’s in the middle of a rural county, safe from the perils of the big city – you have to be aware of your surroundings on a downtown campus. Many of them are open to not just students and faculty, but anyone who wants to wander across the grounds at any hour of the night. Be aware of your surroundings, don’t take unnecessary risks when walking from one place to another, and when in doubt, Call Campus Security. You may feel silly for worrying, but you’re better off silly and safe than worried and robbed.
V for Vendetta
September 8th, 2009
12:03 pm
Race has nothing to do with crime–ignorance and poverty are the deciding factors. Though neither of those is equivalent to a debt to be paid by someone else.
jim d
September 8th, 2009
12:05 pm
Old Timer,
I taught mine to handle a weapon.
Stan
September 8th, 2009
12:09 pm
What I find funny is that if a white person says something that is true, it is considered racist. If I say the thugs ruined Buckhead, ruined Atlantic Station, are the reason the area around Turner Field sucks, are constantly killing in Atlanta, all which are true statements, am I a racist? I just don’t understand how other downtown areas that are more white (San Fran, Orlando, Chicago, Boston) have much few problems then the all black cities (Atlanta, New Orleans, Detroit, etc). I guess they are just more uneducated or have bad leadership (isn’t that the truth!)
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
12:14 pm
Since the immediate issue at hand is more police with the city, it will be up to the voting populace of the city to make the right decision when they go to the polls. The people living in the city need to ask themselves whether or not they feel safe; whether or not the government is properly utilizing their taxes; whether or not they approve of the direction they city is going, among many other questions.
The citizens of the city need to properly inform themselves by getting records, even if they have to use the Open Records Act to obtain the information to be informed. If the citizens of Atlanta vote and are not informed, it will just be more of the same- more of the same robbing, raping, assaulting, and murdering that hits the news virtually every night.
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
12:20 pm
Stan… lets get technical about your question, since it depends on how you define a thug. Thugs can be ANYONE, as in thugs can be white, black, asian, indian, whoever. If you define your domain for a “thug” to be anyone as I have just stated, then you would not be racist. Otherwise, you are making the assumption that a thug can be a person of one race/ethnicity and none of the other races can have thugs.
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
12:23 pm
Stan… on the second half of your comment, people always fail to consider how economically diverse the other cities are. The cities that you mentioned- San Francisco, Chicago and Boston- these cities are not split down by rich and poor like Atlanta, New Orleans, and Detroit are. The first three have residents that are across the spectrum of wealth. After moving down to the area, I can clearly see that Atlanta as a city is divided by the rich and the poor. There is hardly a middle class in the city. With such diverging economics, it is no wonder why Atlanta, among Detroit and New Orleans suffer from such issues as it is now.
Keith
September 8th, 2009
12:26 pm
Thug = black 95% of the time. Pretty much everything Stan said is correct.
DeKalb Conservative
September 8th, 2009
12:30 pm
@ all “Racist Posts”
Why the hypersensitivity about race? I would say alot of the comments on here are prejudice, ie “pre judging,” not racist. I question Maureen’s integrity as a writer if prejudice, bigotry and racism cannot be classified properly.
That said, a related topic to prejudice is profiling. In this context assessing a statistical risk to a social situation such as done by Truth2009. While I can’t speak for Truth2009 directly, that person makes a valid point in profiling scenarios. By society behaviors and actions do Tech and GSU students need to be more heavily guarded when they see an Asian-female wearing a skirt, what about a western European male wearing khakis?
Just like subjecting 80 yr old grandmothers to additional airport searches at the airport isn’t likely to lead to air passenger safety, not identifying groups, behaviors, patterns and traits isn’t going to solve the problem.
Until people are willing to put their hypersensitivity to the side and face the statistical facts, as uncomfortable they might be, the crime will only continue to increase. Until the media is willing to report on the appearance, the clothing, and specific descriptions of vehicles used, including automobile identifiers and upgrades, this crime trend will not decrease.
AeroNautica0909
September 8th, 2009
12:31 pm
Keith… can you prove your statistic from an external source or is that what you have seen and you slap a percentage on?
Mike P
September 8th, 2009
12:37 pm
Interesting comments from everyone, but this one is just blatantly wrong…I can clearly see that Atlanta as a city is divided by the rich and the poor. There is hardly a middle class in the city. I am most definitely middle class as are almost all of my friends and colleagues. Not sure where this comment comes from…
DeKalb Conservative
September 8th, 2009
12:41 pm
@ AeroNautica0909
I can’t speak to San Francisco or Chicago, but I can speak to Boston.
Boston, like so many historical cities has its lowest amounts of wealth in the south part of the city (historically because water / sewage runs from north to south). If you look at the Boston Herald’s crime map of murder rates, you’ll notice the concentration is dramatically skewed to the south.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/crime_map/
The communities of Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and Mattapan are historically black communities. These communities and other similar communities in the south of Boston hold over 90% of the murder rates. What is significant is that these communities are more self enclosed than Atlanta, with non-residents of the area not having a reason to visit — this includes visiting, or temporarily living there because of college.