University of Arizona students affectionately refer to Tucson as “The Dirty T.” Tucson is a quaint city that appears almost as a mirage in the middle of the Arizona desert. The main attraction is the University and the beautiful Santa Catalina, Rincon, and Santa Rita Mountains. Nestled between the mountains, there lies a dirty secret: crime.
The city of Tucson offers a plethora of criminalities including robbery, assault, rape, and even murder. The further south, the better chances of getting the tires stolen off of a car, in broad daylight.
The University of Arizona campus itself is relatively safe, but that does not mean it is a smart idea to walk around campus alone at night. In fact, a few years ago four girls were walking on the mall back to their dorms after going out and were held at gunpoint and had their purses stolen. A block away from my house someone was “accidentally” shot. Another student recalls someone being shot and killed across the street from her as a result of a drug deal gone wrong. Fear not, the person shot was “the bad guy.” Part of the problems lies in the fact that students are blissfully unaware of the possible dangers.
At orientation, groups of students briefly meet with an officer from the UA Police Department. During this time, they touch on a number of topics including underage drinking. Students are well aware of how easy it is to get an MIC (minor in consumption), but they are not aware of how easy it is to encounter more serious crime. Even so, most students disregard drinking laws anyways and will get at least one MIC, maybe even two or three. In the defense of the Police Department, there are 911 Blue light Phones sprinkled throughout campus, but that is not making anyone sleep easier at night. On countless occasions, girls will walk home alone at night thinking they are smart because they do not have to pay for a cab. Perhaps if the student body were more educated about how to avoid dangerous situation, they would not occur so frequently.
One of the biggest issues in Tucson is theft. A recent U of A graduate claimed that last year her car was broken into and her passport was stolen. Additionally, two of her four other roommates had their cars broken into whilst parked in front of their house, which was north east of campus. The home was also burglarized whilst the roommates were at a football game. As a result all of their electronics and some person belongings had been stolen. The girls noted that they noticed someone scoping their house of a few times, so pay attention if you see suspicious vehicles or people on more than one occasion. A few of them also had sorority stickers on their car, so that was a huge red flag. Unfortunately, these events are commonplace in Tucson. Unless of course you live in the Foothills (no one does unless they have a family, are middle aged, or retired).
Tucson’s crime problem is no secret, so why are they not doing more to protect the streets? As a student, sometimes it feels as if both the Tucson Police and the UAPD are more interested in breaking up parties than protecting the community. When we are really in trouble. At schools like the University of Southern California, also located in a dangerous neighborhood, there is security on the campus at all times to protect students. Granted, USC is not a dry campus like UA and it is a private school. The University of Maryland and Indiana University both have shuttles or “drunk buses” that transport students on the weekend. This mode of transportation prevents students from having to walk home drunk at night.
Although the Wildcats love their school and Tucson with all of its quirks, it is disheartening to know that safety is not a given. The world is a dangerous place and crime exists in pretty much every major city. However, not enough is being done to protect students. Students need to be educated on how to avoid danger. Students are easy targets because this is their first time living alone and criminals are aware of the high student population around the University. Please do not be scared for your life after reading this article, just be cautious and be safe.