I really don't think there's too much to worry about, but then again I tend to underreact to this type of stuff. Also keep in mind I'm probably one of the biggest Hyde Park trolls out there, so I'm biased. But anyway, I really only consider at most a handful of those to be at all worrisome to UChicago students, and that's over the course of the entire summer. I think there's a few reasons it doesn't bother me that much.
1) Most of the shootings are not really that close. I know a couple miles seems close, but I think when you're in a city, a couple miles can mean you're in completely different worlds.
2) None of the shootings are in Hyde Park itself. Except for maybe those couple of incidents around 61st, none of these shootings are happening in areas where students go. And I don't think that's a coincidence. Hyde Park is surrounded by bad neighborhoods, but I really think Hyde Park itself is pretty nice. Plus UChicago police is everywhere in Hyde Park. I think that makes a huge difference.
3) I haven't checked into this, but I really doubt most of these are random acts of violence. Usually people don't just go around shooting people for no reason. Someone mentioned the 15 year old boy getting shot. Yeah it's kinda scary that it was close to the law school, but iirc that shooting was the result of an earlier fight that 15 year old was in. Some of the victims might be innocent bystanders, or some might be the result of muggings, but if I had to guess, I'd guess most of those shootings stemmed from earlier incidents, or involved people who already knew each other in some way, etc.
So that's my attempt to help calm your fears a little. And fwiw, a lot of us are staying in Hyde Park for 2L. Less than half I'd say, but maybe a quarter or a third or so. I'm sure those who are staying wouldn't stay if they felt unsafe in this neighborhood.
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