Students arrive at Tufts with bright eyes and smiling faces, carrying shiny televisions, listening to clean white iPods and wearing sparkling jewelry. The majority will move off the Hill in May with these same belongings.
But for the unlucky ones, their stuff will leave in someone else's hands - and not because they're making donations to Jumbo Drop.
Students certainly worry about things from laptops and cell phones to designer clothes and stereo systems being stolen, and everyone has heard stories about the kid down the hall whose room got cleaned out. "I absolutely worry about theft - all the time," senior Kim Nguyen said.
Junior Chris Severino explained that he worries more now that he lives off-campus, but not too much: "In the back of my mind I'm nervous, but I always lock my door and stuff, so it's not a huge worry for me," he said. "I didn't really worry when I lived in a dorm, but I don't really know why."
Severino added, "There is more traffic in the dorms, and people had things stolen all the time."
According to the Tufts University Police Department's crime statistics for 2004-2005 reported in last year's Public Safety Brochure, Tufts students reported 26 burglaries in on-campus residences, and nine more in non-residential campus areas. TUPD did not receive any reports of off-campus thefts last year.
While it's frustrating to lose data from a computer, music on an iPod, or a gift from a boyfriend, it can be much worse when students have to take the financial hit - either accepting the loss or paying to replace a stolen item.
Many students' parents have homeowners' insurance that will cover property stored in dorms. But for students who live off campus, or whose parents' insurance doesn't offer coverage, it may seem like they just have to accept the danger of living among strangers. According to the Insurance Information Institute's Web site, some homeowners' policies have low limits on the value of electronics they'll cover.
Luckily, there are insurance companies that will cover students in need. And those students should be investigating their options, according to Donna Rodriguez, Coordinator of the Off-Campus Housing Resource Center.
"Should they buy it? Yes. That's the bottom line," Rodriguez said. "It's not that it's costly - it's usually just a lot of paperwork, and I don't think students have time to do that paperwork."
Insurance coverage varies by company and by state, so not every Tufts student needs the same policy. But for students, it might be worth checking out what their parents' policy covers, what the limits are and whether it applies to off-campus living.
Renter's insurance for individual students might be the best option for some who live off campus; it protects against loss or destruction of a renter's possessions, which is important, since landlords' insurance does not necessarily cover them.
Rodriguez recalled a case when the apartment of a student living off campus flooded. "The landlord said he could cover structural damage, but the student had to pick up the cost of the damages to her furniture, her clothes - everything in the apartment," Rodriguez said.
Renter's insurance also covers additional living expenses that may occur if a tenant has to relocate after damage to his apartment, such as a flood or fire.
In reality, though, the cost of insurance is a deciding factor. Severino talked to his parents about their homeowners' insurance and found out that it doesn't cover much while he lives at Tufts. "We've talked about different possibilities, but I barely have enough money for books and food, let alone insurance," Severino said.
Nguyen decided against insurance in favor of more traditional security: "I bought one of those laptop cables that attaches to the desk," Nguyen said. "I don't think I need any other measures," she added.
While floods may be unpreventable, there are effective ways to avoid theft. Both TUPD and the Insurance Information Institute recommend keeping your dorm room doors locked whenever you're out of the room, even if you're just down the hall. They also recommend engraving your important belongings with an ID number, which TUPD offers as a free service.
In addition, students should leave their expensive jewelry and irreplaceable items at home. They should also avoid leaving their valuables unattended around campus; leaving your laptop out in the library is a great way to attract a potential thief.
If students have concerns about the security of their on-campus residences, they can call Tufts Facilities for repairs to security measures.
