For some University students, leaving the friendly confines of on-campus dormitories to brave the West Philadelphia housing market is just more of an adventure than they can take.
"I've never felt threatened or scared in the Quad," College freshman Kyle Madden-Peister said.
However, the fact remains that despite the visible security that comes with on-campus living, every year an estimated 40 percent of Penn students make the decision to live off-campus.
Perhaps it's the lure of bigger apartments, more amenities and the greater freedom that comes with the absence of resident advisers that is driving droves of students past the edge of campus.
But by making that move, are students also compromising their safety?
"No, I don't think so," Nursing junior Zoe Reich said. "Walking home I usually see a few of the campus policemen patrolling the corners, and that makes me feel safer."
And according to Vice President of Public Safety Maureen Rush, the University is very responsive to the changing needs of the student community, and has made efforts to combat the upsurge in criminal activity that was seen last September.
"We increased through overtime patrols the number of people on patrol at any given time," Rush said. "The crime has definitely continued to decrease."
And despite what many believe, Rush noted that when it comes to policing the area, the University doesn't distinguish between those areas that are on or off campus.
"On campus and off campus in our minds doesn't exist," Rush said. "We have a community that lives west of 40th [Street] and we patrol west to 43rd Street. Our coverage is evenly distributed to make sure the entire patrol is spread out through the area."
In fact, Rush noted that the decrease may be even more pronounced than many would think, as the overall crime in Penn's policing district went down by 40 percent between 1996 and 2003. Specifically, robberies saw an even greater decline in that time period, decreasing by 56 percent.
Yet, those decreases may not simply be the result of additional patrols, but may also be evidence of a changing neighborhood.
The decrease "speaks volumes about the change of the environment. Upgrades in streetscape, retail and cooperation with our community, who has become education savvy, all make a difference," Rush said.
The University also offers walking or driving escorts for students who are uncomfortable walking alone, no matter where they choose to live.
In the end, while some students may not be completely convinced of the equality of security on and off campus, the allure of off-campus housing choices is just too hard to pass up.
"I definitely sacrificed some elements of security, like having a building with a doorman, but I think the benefits outweigh the sacrifices," College sophomore Laura Becker said.
