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I was at a party in Holland this weekend talking to the parent of a recent WMU grad. Her kid liked the education WMU but she said the rough parts of K-zoo are closing in around the Western campus. I know there were some gun related incidents. I was surprised to hear that the criem has gotten to the point where the parent told us that she would hesitant sending her younger kids to Western given the crime situation.

I was a bit shocked. As a parent (and 2 time Alum) with a kid that is interested in Western it is a bit concerning. Has anyone here heard about the crime issues and the areas around Western getting pretty rough?

The student 'ghetto' on the other side of east campus was always rough. I have no idea if it's any worse today, but crime was a problem in the past. A WMU student was stabbed to death after surprising some punk trying to steal his bike-they caught the perp as well. This was about 30 years ago.

Between undergrad and grad school, I spent about 6 years at WMU. I lived in the "student ghetto" for two years, spent one year in Jack Pine (KL Ave.), and jumped around between a couple of apartment complexes west of Drake in Oshtemo Township my last few semesters at WMU.

The places I felt the LEAST safe were the ones out in Oshtemo Township west of Drake. There were numerous incidents out there happening on a weekly basis (no exaggeration). The problem is that KDPS doesn't respond to (most) incidents out there. It's all township police and there were only 1-2 officers on duty at all times. Considering how large the area is out there that they cover, it's not a good situation.

As usual, this recent editorial from the Gazette proves they just don't get it:
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/i...cart_river

In response to the parent's comment you mentioned... hard to disagree with them.

(05-25-2015 03:49 PM)bronco89 Wrote:  the parent told us that she would hesitant sending her younger kids to Western given the crime situation.

:eyeroll: x1000

They're from Holland and they're concerned about their child being in a diverse environment i.e. any city in America? Shocking that a Hollander would think that way.........

(05-25-2015 07:56 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  They're from Holland and they're concerned about their child being in a diverse environment i.e. any city in America? Shocking that a Hollander would think that way.........

What he said...

I've heard this from a number of current students and alumni.

(05-25-2015 07:56 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  They're from Holland and they're concerned about their child being in a diverse environment i.e. any city in America? Shocking that a Hollander would think that way.........

These are Holland West Ottawa parents- There are 2,200 kids in the high school with a 50% minority population and 45% of the kids on free or reduced lunch.....this is not a diversity issue.

This was a reasonable parent that I have known for some time. She really seemed concerned about the crime coming onto campus. I know the north side of K-Zoo has had issues for a long time....lived on Stewart Street in the late 80's while in grad school. The student ghetto was always a bit rough. How are the south and west sides of campus these days?

I worked for many years in downtown Kalamazoo. All the time the downtown association heard complaints about a "rough", dangerous environment. They did a study and found Crossroads mall was actually more dangerous than the downtown mall. A perception problem.

But. Tons of fresh housing has been built near and west of campus. Thus, the older stock of housing was abandoned by students, and indeed the new residents of that stock are "rougher" than the previous students.

Bring back the good old days of student riots, burning houses, turning over cars etc. Those were the days.

I think the perception of a crime problem is a bit exaggerated. I'm still in Kzoo and there are no doubt some rough parts of town, but the only parts that are real bad are still north of the tracks.

I guess it all depends on what kind of crime we're talking about though. The Knollwood area and other student-dominated areas have plenty of petty vandalism, drug and alcohol related incidents, fighting, things of that nature. It's no different than it's always been in those parts of every college town.

(05-26-2015 09:52 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  I think the perception of a crime problem is a bit exaggerated. I'm still in Kzoo and there are no doubt some rough parts of town, but the only parts that are real bad are still north of the tracks.

I guess it all depends on what kind of crime we're talking about though. The Knollwood area and other student-dominated areas have plenty of petty vandalism, drug and alcohol related incidents, fighting, things of that nature. It's no different than it's always been in those parts of every college town.

YES!

I wrote and deleted a previous post, but you basically hit all my points. The usual perceptions of crime around campus are completely overblown. There has always been a problem with property crime in the Vine neighborhood and the student neighborhoods west of campus, mostly due to the affluence (real or just perceived), recklessness and carelessness of those living in such 'hoods. Again those are PROPERTY crimes. Has there been an increase in real, violent crime? Home invasions, weapons brandished, and the like.

Most of the people who bring up "concerns" about crime near campus usually have no clue about Kzoo, have no one close living there or don't have any experience with the city beyond a trip there every couple years or so.

(05-26-2015 11:00 AM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  

(05-26-2015 09:52 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  I think the perception of a crime problem is a bit exaggerated. I'm still in Kzoo and there are no doubt some rough parts of town, but the only parts that are real bad are still north of the tracks.

I guess it all depends on what kind of crime we're talking about though. The Knollwood area and other student-dominated areas have plenty of petty vandalism, drug and alcohol related incidents, fighting, things of that nature. It's no different than it's always been in those parts of every college town.

YES!

I wrote and deleted a previous post, but you basically hit all my points. The usual perceptions of crime around campus are completely overblown. There has always been a problem with property crime in the Vine neighborhood and the student neighborhoods west of campus, mostly due to the affluence (real or just perceived), recklessness and carelessness of those living in such 'hoods. Again those are PROPERTY crimes. Has there been an increase in real, violent crime? Home invasions, weapons brandished, and the like.

Most of the people who bring up "concerns" about crime near campus usually have no clue about Kzoo, have no one close living there or don't have any experience with the city beyond a trip there every couple years or so.

In this past year I have read of a couple "confrontations" with knives, guns and the like on campus/or bordering. Just because I read about it because it was printed doesn't mean that the such has increased.

However, it did "take me back" a little that it was on campus involving student victims or student age criminals.

I cant think of someone more close to the situation than current students. Not sure how from your up bringing in GR (area) and perch in DC warrants your perspective to be more sound than those more directly invested and involved. But you are Charm and we have come to expect and love you for that.

thanks guys....interest takes on the situation. As an alum I am concerned about the "reputation" of K-Zoo and Western's campus. As a father, I just want to make sure he is safe.

(05-26-2015 12:43 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  In this past year I have read of a couple "confrontations" with knives, guns and the like on campus/or bordering. Just because I read about it because it was printed doesn't mean that the such has increased.

You could have left it at that and you would have been correct. Just because you read a couple news reports every few years of an armed robbery on campus doesn't mean the North Side natives have taken over. Don't know how where I live is relevant, but the facts remain: People have been complaining about an "uptick" in crime around campus as long as I've cared about Western and, unless someone other than some liberal-phobic senior citizen residing in Illinois can prove better, I find these claims to be unfounded.

(05-26-2015 01:45 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  

(05-26-2015 12:43 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  In this past year I have read of a couple "confrontations" with knives, guns and the like on campus/or bordering. Just because I read about it because it was printed doesn't mean that the such has increased.

You could have left it at that and you would have been correct. Just because you read a couple news reports every few years of an armed robbery on campus doesn't mean the North Side natives have taken over. Don't know how where I live is relevant, but the facts remain: People have been complaining about an "uptick" in crime around campus as long as I've cared about Western and, unless someone other than some liberal-phobic senior citizen residing in Illinois can prove better, I find these claims to be unfounded.

Using the N word. Those north side Natives.

Hard to keep up with your relevance. Where you live is not Kalamazoo. And the fact is you're calling shots from beyond the peanut gallery. Not even a tertiary witness. I defer to those on the ground with a vested interest.

(05-26-2015 03:36 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  Using the N word. Those north side Natives.

Hard to keep up with your relevance. Where you live is not Kalamazoo. And the fact is you're calling shots from beyond the peanut gallery. Not even a tertiary witness. I defer to those on the ground with a vested interest.

I'm sorry, where exactly are you posting from again? YOU'RE the one posting hysterics about how a few armed robberies happen on campus, therefore the natives have taken over campus.

(05-26-2015 06:21 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  

(05-26-2015 03:36 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  Using the N word. Those north side Natives.

Hard to keep up with your relevance. Where you live is not Kalamazoo. And the fact is you're calling shots from beyond the peanut gallery. Not even a tertiary witness. I defer to those on the ground with a vested interest.

I'm sorry, where exactly are you posting from again? YOU'RE the one posting hysterics about how a few armed robberies happen on campus, therefore the natives have taken over campus.

This guys a piece of work. Can he weigh in on Amtrak while he's ranting?

(05-26-2015 06:21 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  

(05-26-2015 03:36 PM)gobaseline Wrote:  Using the N word. Those north side Natives.

Hard to keep up with your relevance. Where you live is not Kalamazoo. And the fact is you're calling shots from beyond the peanut gallery. Not even a tertiary witness. I defer to those on the ground with a vested interest.

I'm sorry, where exactly are you posting from again? YOU'RE the one posting hysterics about how a few armed robberies happen on campus, therefore the natives have taken over campus.

To repeat myself, I defer to those on the scene and those who have a vested interest. Their concern aligned with what I read regarding this past school year. You? Not so much.

What is the number on acceptable armed robberies that don't impact you directly? Maybe Toddsjohn or whoever it is that likes to run the numbers could weigh in? Dip, another poll please? Let's be hospitable to Charm here. He's confused and dazed. Must be his life experience getting in the way.

Please refrain from using the N(ative) word. It is derogatory and adding to the hysteria.

Stop trying to infer anything into Natives more than I intended, which is to refer to them as natives, you pr1ck.

(05-26-2015 10:03 PM)Charm City Bronco Wrote:  Stop trying to infer anything into Natives more than I intended, which is to refer to them as natives, you pr1ck.

Cool, it's Wheel of Fortune!
N and a now a P. Is it too early to buy a vowel? Wait, Charm threw on a number 1. Not sure what that infers.