Heading home is not Eddie Xu’s top priority; his main focus is to stay safe.

            “Recently there has been a lot of violence in this neighborhood, like the stabbing,” said Xu, senior. “I don’t feel safe, not at all.”

            Xu is referring to the recent stabbing in front of the Ave. M train station on November 3rd. Even though the school and the neighborhood is considered safe, it does have many Murrowites wondering how safe they really are once they leave the building.

            “After something like that happens, I just don’t feel safe,” said Nancy Weng, a freshman. “It could always happen again.”

Junior Renee Lindenbaum said she feels there is no security outside the school area.

“I’m so tense in this neighborhood, any minute someone could attack me,” said Lindenbaum.

According to school officials, there is plenty of security in and outside the building.

“Whenever we hear something from the kids, that there’s going to be a situation, we make sure that there are more of us around,” said Mr. Billy Maher, a dean. “And we notify the police so they could have a larger presence during dismissal.”

There are indeed police officers that patrol around the Ave. M station and across the street at Kolbert Park, but the further you walk away from school the more it seems you are on your own.

Due to current events, Annette Vera, a senior, fears of being the next victim especially when going home.

“I feel that I could be in the wrong place in the wrong time,” said Vera. “I could be the next innocent bystander to a crime.”

According the U.S. Census Bureau and FBI crime data in 2010, the Midwood area did have the lowest crime rate in New York City. Nevertheless, it still has students’ concerned.

“Now there are too many robberies and hate crimes,” said Lindenbaum. “I do think it was safe many years before [2010].”

            Senior Cassie Maloney lives near the school’s vicinity and said she believes the neighborhood is safe.

            “The safety should be a bit higher in this neighborhood because we’re near a high school, which automatically makes the safety higher,” said Maloney.

            According to Weng, there are ways for her to stay safe.

            “I just keep to my own business.” she said. “I don’t get involved with other people’s businesses.”

            The Dean’s office shares the basic advice to stay safe.

            “Always keep [your] eyes open and keep your valuables in your bag,” said Ms. Susana Giberga, the AP of Administration and Security.

Ms. Giberga said students need to stay safe and smart.

            “We don’t live on a farm, said Ms. Giberga. “Murrow kids need to stay alert, like every other person who lives in NYC.”