The Strip, has long been an entertainment district adjacent to the campus. In recent years The Strip has become a haven for gang activity and at times, it is no longer safe for college students. It is apparent that the businesses on the Strip are having difficulty cleaning up The Strip, to a point that the City of Tuscaloosa is having to dedicate a large portion of their resources to that small area of Tuscaloosa. The Strip probably does not bring in enough tax revenue to the City to justify the resources spent on the Strip.
There are things the University can do to clean up this high crime area of the City of Tuscaloosa. First the University can put the Strip on a recommended 'Off Limits Area for College Students'. This would not mean it is totally Off Limits, but would mean that the University is telling students to avoid 'The Strip', it is telling visitors to avoid 'The Strip', and they would be leaving 'The Strip' for all appropriate Law Enforcement Activity.
In Columbia, South Carolina, the City had the same types of problems with an area known as Five Points about fifteen years ago and the City came down hard on the area. Any student found underage drinking in the area was subject to arrest and school discipline. The area was somewhat cleaned up by the merchants, after everyone saw that the City and University were serious. In Tuscaloosa there is a complication in that so many apartments, dorms and residences are in close proximity to 'The Strip'.
In the meantime, I would suggest that everyone listen to people in the know, like XCop, and avoid 'The Strip.' The merchants will clean the place up in quick order.
In the meantime, parents remind your children that nothing good happens at 1:00 in the morning.
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