Ds has no idea what he is talking about on crime. Having spent a lot of time their over seven years, there was a significant problem with property crime. Campus crime watch isn't scientific ... I had so many friends who had cars broken into or in a couple of cases apartments.
Actually, Gold, I lived there for over five years and I do know what I'm talking about. What, statistics from TU Security aren't enough for you? Anecdotal information is subjective. Maybe you personally had experiences with cars being broken into, but that doesn't mean that was representative of the whole campus. That's your personal experience. If I were to make assumptions about the whole campus based on my own experiences and the experiences of my friends, I'd be forced to believe that there was absolutely no crime.
There is a reason TU did so much to create a buffer to the west with the athletics facilities and then modified the parking lots to the north.
Yes, it's called decades of poor planning and decision making by TU administrators and Trustees. As I discussed earlier, TU created the problem area to the west of campus and now, instead of trying to fix it, they've elected to erect fences and turn away from it. It will fix itself, right? If anything, the construction of the fence has proven that it was a worthless endeavor and they need to try a new approach.
The fence keeps students from easy access to certain parts of campus, while not keeping anyone--including would-be criminals--out. For a fence to truly work the way TU wanted it to (turning campus into a secured compound), they would have to completely block access and place guard stations at each entrance. There are open gates in places that are useless, and then there are gates in residential areas that keep residents from simply walking across the street. Pedestrian access is greatly reduced, and I can give you some anecdotal examples if you'd like them.
My sense is that folks like to find reason to bag on TU. It's funny since it's really an anchor for keeping propety values up in the area and it does so much for the area (Kendall Whittier). I'll never forget Mstr. Bates' defense of a head shop. Deviant behavior, indeed.
No one is looking for reasons to complain about TU. They're there, in plain sight. Has the value of the new facilities increased property values in the area? Maybe in the short term. But property values alone do not a neighborhood make. Take a look at the integrity and continuity of the neighborhood. TU has completely cut itself off from the surrounding neighborhood, isolating itself in a cocoon of righteousness, literally tearing down homes and connector streets to put up walls, fences, gates, and parking lots. Those are the kinds of things that destroy a neighborhood, not help build it up.
In the end, the fence means nothing. The area across 11th street is a hodgepodge of fast food, gas stations, and payday loans. What are we worried about TU distancing itself from?
So, because the businesses along the street aren't up-to-par with TU's pristine new image, they should cut off all connection with them? A majority of those businesses serve TU students, faculty, staff and visitors. They directly benefit the University by providing their services, but TU has decided to cut off all access except via a car, and has even limited vehicular access to campus. As a former TU apartment dweller, I can tell you that it's much harder to get to any business on 11th street by foot now. Before the fence, I could walk directly across the street to get a pizza, or a burrito, or catch the bus. After the fence went up, I was surrounded on three sides by fences and had to walk quite far out of my way to make it to the new "front door" on 11th Street, and back-track to do anything.
TU brings more value to the community than a lot of things. I think many people lose site of the big picture.
They do create a lot of value for the community, but that does not mean that they get a
carte blanche when it comes to bullying and subsequently destroying its surrounding neighborhoods. I think they'd find a much more vibrant, active, safe scene in the neighborhood if they stopped using sticks and instead used carrots.