College campuses can feel isolated from the world. At Temple it’s easy to fall into routines that revolve around classes, dorms and familiar faces. But stepping just a few blocks off campus reveals a much bigger reality, one that too many students ignore.
More than 7,500 of Temple’s almost 30,000 students live on or near Main Campus, according to the admission’s office.
Even though many live off campus, there is a disconnect between them and North Central Philadelphia residents. Students avoid locals, exploring the area and getting to know the community.
Temple has wrestled with safety concerns, leading to nearly 90% of 120 students thinking Temple Department of Public Safety needs to improve, according to a January 2025 poll from The Temple News. However, there is also often sensationalized coverage and exaggerated narratives that have perpetuated the idea that Temple and its surrounding areas are dangerous.
The Editorial Board urges students to make an effort to become familiar with the culture and environment of the community surrounding Main Campus.
Acknowledging those who around you, exploring small businesses and being conscious of neighbors can connect students with the community.
The fear of the surrounding community stems from implicit bias and fear. Many of these perceptions are deeply rooted in racial or class-based stereotypes.
Research suggests stereotypes placed on people of color impact the way they’re perceived, which further produce the negative stigma of them being dangerous, according to a 2023 study by the University at Albany.
The idea that the surrounding area is dangerous is harmful and limiting. It prevents students from forming a real understanding of the place they live in for four years. It also contributes to a lack of respect for the residents and perpetuates an unfair and harmful narrative.
People often come to universities in large cities for the commercialized experience of urban life. What many don’t understand is that it’s the people they avoid interacting with who make the culture so vibrant.
Being part of a community starts with small actions. Students should smile at people when passing them and be polite when walking into a store. Learning the names of local businesses and the people running them is also crucial. These are simple choices, but they shift how students show up in shared spaces.
Basic acknowledgments of humanity go a long way. At the end of the day, some students are only temporary residents.
College is not just about academics; it’s also about learning how to exist and contribute to the outside world.
Students should walk around the neighborhood, go out into the city and explore something new. Some hidden gems include Front Street Gym in Kensington where Creed was filmed and Epiphany Fellowship Church on Diamond Street near 17th Street, just five minutes from Main Campus.
Temple does not exist in a vacuum, and neither should its students. The community surrounding campus is not something to fear or ignore; it’s something to learn from, engage with and respect.