Safety
- How late can we stay outside and still be safe on the streets?
I will answer this question assuming you do not have a car and are not a driver. It depends where you are at night. Typically, if you are on campus or a busy street area like Ninth Street, you are fine to be out at night. However, if it is dark, and you are ready to go home, let's say to you off-campus apartment, then you should take the Safe Rides van home. http://siren.auxserv.duke.edu/parking/saferides/saferides.htm
We obviously do not advise walking around poorly lit areas or quiet streets after dark. Do call a cab when you are ready to go home from a party off-campus or clubbing on Ninth Street or eating downtown.
- Is Durham a safe place to live if I come alone? Or with children?
Durham is a safe place to live. The International House staff knows hundreds of students and scholars who live by themselves here. Durham is also a wonderful place to bring your children. It is quite a family friendly city with lots of things for families and children to do. http://www.durham-nc.com
Durham is not a "quaint college town." This city has its roots in the tobacco and textile industries. Durham is, what one might call, a working-class city. Living here provides a wonderful opportunity to experience "real" life in the States. All of the International House staff lives in Durham.
- What safety precautions should be taken in Durham?
The city of Durham has roughly 250,000 inhabitants. Even though the city is very spread out and the Duke campus itself is quite spacious, you must remember that you are living in a city. This means keeping your belongings with you when in the library, keeping your dormitory door locked, keeping your bicycle or auto properly secured and always asking "Who is it" when someone knocks on your door. (Obviously do not open the door if you do not know the person.) http://rlhs.studentaffairs.duke.edu/resources/safety.html
That said, if you come from a large city back home, you will be shocked to see so few people walking on the streets here. We are very much a car city. It can feel so strange not to see many people walking around off-campus.
Do know that it is perfectly fine to walk all over campus, as well as busy AND quiet streets in daytime. However, when walking around off-campus after dark, one should always take Safe Rides home or call a cab if going to a party or another location.