Chicago City Wire

Amid growing safety concerns on the campus of the University of Chicago, students are voicing their frustrations, claiming the administration's handling of recent criminal incidents leaves much to be desired.

Daniel Schmidt, a student at the University of Chicago, took to social media to express his concerns about the safety of the institution, noting that in just four days, at least 10 students have reportedly fallen victim to gunpoint muggings.

“UChicago, where I'm a student, has become completely unsafe. This is one of the best universities in the world, yet at least 10 students have been mugged at gunpoint in 4 days,” Schmidt said on X.

“The administration is accepting it as normal. They won't even release info on what the thugs look like, despite the victims reporting they're a bunch of young black guys who have done mugging after mugging and gotten away with it.”

“UChicago, arguably the most intellectually demanding school in America, has been reduced to a playing ground for black criminals. None of the students will speak up because they fear being called racist. None of the administrators will do anything because they fear being called racist.”

“Is this all deserved, then? Perhaps. But consider the bigger picture: everything once great in America is now unrecognizable because the people who inherited it are too afraid of being called racist.”

“John D. Rockefeller founded UChicago. Imagine telling him his cherished school would turn into this. There's something profoundly wrong about that.”

“If you're a parent of a high schooler, I would advise against letting your kid apply here. It's not safe. What a disgrace.”

Chicago police are currently investigating a series of armed robberies near the University of Chicago campus, with at least seven incidents reported this month.

The victims have been approached by groups of male offenders who demand wallets, cellphones, and passcodes before fleeing in a vehicle, leading to increased concern and vigilance among students and residents in the area.

In August following a series of shootings that occurred in Washington Park, violence spilled over into the University of Chicago Medical Center’s Hyde Park Adult Emergency Department, resulting in an attack on patients and medical personnel by a group of 15-20 people.

Following the shooting the hospital noted it was enhancing its security measures and investigating the incident, emphasizing that patient and employee safety is their top priority.

That incident is part of a larger trend of mob violence in the city of Chicago, with crime rates surging significantly in Mayor Brandon Johnson's first month in office, raising concerns about his approach to public safety and the ongoing crime wave.

The crime problem is part of a broader issue for the region critics say is due to lax prosecution under Kim Foxx's tenure as state's attorney for Cook County.

In Chicago the number of murders has drastically climbed recently, reaching new highs not seen since 1994. In 2022 Cook County registered 927 homicides, including 740 in the City of Chicago.

In 2022 alone, burglaries increased by 33 percent, thefts increased by 61 percent, and auto thefts increased by 45 percent.