Columbia University
- Health & Safety

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Most students feel safe at Columbia. It would be difficult not to, since Columbia security and the NYPD have such a high profile on campus. While it is possible for almost anyone to get on campus, access to certain buildings and all residence halls is restricted to those with a Columbia ID card. With escort services and emergency phones available, campus security excels at keeping students safe.

Simple common sense and street smarts are necessary to survive in any urban environment. Always be aware of your surroundings, and avoid dodgy places at night, especially the local parks. Trusting your instincts will often protect you—if you feel unsafe, it’s best to get out of the situation you’re in. Fortunately, there are plenty of police and security guards around Columbia to provide assistance in such a predicament. Even though the area surrounding the school has been gentrified, there are still some sketchy areas that should be avoided at night. You don’t want to make the mistake of getting on the wrong train and ending up in Harlem in the middle of the night. As safe as Columbia is, it is not a fortress void of any criminals. Keep your wits about you, and keep your distance from the local panhandlers. Most are harmless, but you never know.

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Health & Safety at Columbia University

lae2116

Architecture '12

4.2

A-

Be Smart and You'll Be Just Fine

For what Columbia has to deal with, being next to Harlem and in an incredibly populous city, Columbia does an excellent job of keeping its students safe. There is very little crime within the gates of the campus, but on the streets around campus, there are different sorts of robberies at night. Security is always, always on patrol and is easy to reach. Just always make sure to be with other people; simple good judgement is all you really need to protect yourself here, and being in New York helps to teach you to be careful about these things. Columbia provides very helpful safety talks at the beginning of each year, as well as personal safety talks in relation to violence and sexual violence, which I have never actually encountered.

Mar 20, 2012

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Health & Safety at Columbia University

LikeAPrayer15

Anthropology and Archaeology '15

3.1

B-

Um...What Health?

Safety is good--Public Safety can be jerks from time to time (yelling at drunken students, refusing to escort you if you're half a block out of range at 3 a.m.) but for the most part they really come through. Health Services...well, put it this way, St. Luke's is right next door. Give them a try.

Mar 20, 2012

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Health & Safety at Columbia University

urch

History '15

5.0

A+

Safest Urban Campus

Safest urban campus I believe, or at least that's what we're told. There have been 2 or 3 minor incidents this year, and the university responded by stepping up security in areas that were lightly covered. Never felt unsafe.

Mar 19, 2012

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Photos of Columbia University's Health & Safety

College Walk

Photo by nathuan329

College Walk Extending through the heart of campus, College Walk connects Amsterdam and Broadway, where the main gates are located. Many people pass through College Walk, meeting up with friends or heading out into the city.

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Quidditch on South Lawn

Photo by nathuan329

Quidditch on South Lawn The lawns at Columbia are often open to many student activities, places for students to lay out and read on sunny days, and for students to get together to throw a Frisbee or, here, play a quick game of Quidditch. Photo credit: Catherine Chen.

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Reading on Low Plaza

Photo by nathuan329

Reading on Low Plaza On sunny days, students enjoy lounging on the steps of Low Plaza to get work done and relax.

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