Northeastern University - Safety & Security

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Any city is going to be dangerous in some areas and intimidating at night, especially if you are not familiar with your surroundings, and Boston is no exception. The NUPD, however, makes a huge effort to ensure students' safety. Exterior doors to residence halls are locked at 11 p.m. and can only be opened with a residents’ Husky card. Public Safety patrols a one-mile radius around Northeastern. There is a seven-day-a-week security and escort service that will even take students to off-campus apartments within a mile from the campus’s center. NU is a well-lit campus, equipped with numerous emergency call boxes, also known as blue-light phones. The Public Safety Division also works with the Boston Police Department.

In 2008, Northeastern suffered a tragic loss when student Rebecca Payne was murdered in her off-campus apartment on Mission Hill, prompting police to increase patrol presence in the area and to urge nearby schools to provide students with safety information. NU also heightened security in 2007 when the Red Sox won the World Series and students took to the streets to riot. Although dangerous incidents are rare, the best advice for students on any urban campus is to leave if you are uncomfortable somewhere. There is always a way out of a situation before it turns into a sticky one.

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Students Speak Out

NUAR says: Northeastern University 2016 Communication and Journalism

There is a pretty big police... There is a pretty big police presence on campus making sure everything's safe. It's the city, so you have to be careful, but I never really feel unsafe. Just keep your dorm room locked all the time to avoid theft, and don't leave stuff lying around. 12345 Safety & Security: February 21, 2009 Report

NUNP says: Northeastern University 2015 Social Sciences

Campus is incredibly safe, and... Campus is incredibly safe, and NUPD are an active presence on campus. The surrounding area is safe as well, with the exception of our border with the Roxbury area. Still, you'd really have to make a conscious effort to be in an unsafe area while at NU. 12345 Safety & Security: February 20, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Security on campus is pretty good.... Security on campus is pretty good. Everywhere you go within a mile radius of campus, you see NUPD officers either walking around or driving in their cop cars. I feel generally safe most of the time. They also have a service that you can call at anytime at night to drive you home if you feel unsafe. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

With the exception of the... With the exception of the occasional riot, I always feel safe on campus. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Security on campus is pretty good.... Security on campus is pretty good. If you press the button in one of the boxes where the blue lights are located, a police officer will typically be there in less than two minutes. The NU escort service is pretty easy to use and reliable. A police car will come pick you up and bring you where you need to go, within a mile of campus. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Did You Know?

All NUPD officers are also certified EMTs who respond to medical emergencies around campus.

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