Survey: Safety Feeling of Students in Monterrey

SECURITY AND SAFETY
A study about how students experience the current situation in MTY

1

Bienvenidos
This is a student survey conducted in June 2010 mainly among
exchange students (47) at TEC and EGADE in Monterrey. Its
pupose is to agregate several views about the security situation in
Monterrey in order to allow new exchange students to receive a
broader picture formed by various opinions. It shall give
guidance to new students and ease their decision on whether
they would like to study in Monterrey.

The aim of this study is not to investigate in criminal activity in Monterrey. It is neither official, nor fully representative. It
was designed to show how students feel and to collect different views and suggestions.

2

FreeOnlineSurveys.com View Results 11.06.10 03:05

1. What nationality are you?
Results for: Feeling of safety of international students in
Monterrey

1) What nationality are you?

Percentage Responses

American (US) 6.5 3
Austrian 0.0 0
Canadian 4.3 2
Chinese 0.0 0
Czech 0.0 0
Dutch 2.2 1
English 0.0 0
Finnish 4.3 2
French 15.2 7
German 28.3 13
Guatemalan 0.0 0
Mexican 13.0 6
Moroccan 0.0 0
Polish 0.0 0
Russian 0.0 0
Slovenian 2.2 1
Swedish 4.3 2
Swiss 0.0 0
Other 19.6 9
Total responses: 46

2) Do you feel generally safe in MTY? 3

Russian 0.0 0
Slovenian 2.2 1
Swedish 4.3 2
Swiss 0.0 0
Other
2. General Safety 19.6
Total responses:
9
46

2) Do you feel generally safe in MTY?


Yes 70.2% 33
No 29.8% 14
Total responses: 47

3) Have you experienced a situation in Monterrey in which you
felt unsafe or scared?

eeOnlineSurveys.com View Results 11.06.10 03:05
A lot 12.8 6

Only a few 36.2 17
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Maybe once 17.0 8
No, never 34.0 16
Total responses: 47

4

No, never 34.0 16
Total responses: 47

4) 3. If you were ever scared or felt unsafe in
If you were ever scared or felt unsafe in Monterrey, please
briefly state the reason. shortly describe what happened.

Monterrey, please briefly state the reason
(One answer is sufficient)

(The last five responses are given)

- Once someone broke in our apartment. Once I got robbed with a pistol.
- Police wanted to take me to the police station because I had alcoholic breath..
- The shooting was too near to sch and also the place that i was staying at.
- Friends robed, Gunattacks, Shootings with students getting killed, Police do whatever
they like robbing exchange student putting you in jail for no reason
- - A car stopped by me at night, a few seconds, then left..
eeOnlineSurveys.com View Results 800 pesos to the cops because they arrested a friend with an empty bottle
- Have to give 09.06.10 17:00
of beer, actually I was more scared about the police than narcos!
Roomie was assaulted and taken to our appartment with a gun. The bandits took all
valuables and threatened to kill anybody who says sth to the police. His friend who was
kept hostage by the other bandits was released a few hours later;
Being at a party where the police took everybody who was standing outside on the
streets (they were released after paying 500 pesos)
5) Do you think Monterrey has become more dangerous since
- you arrived?shooting pretty close to me
There was a


Yes 76.6% 36
5)No Do you think Monterrey has become more dangerous since 23.4% 11
you arrived? Total responses: 47

5 Percentage Responses

No, never 35.7 15
Total responses: 42

4) 3. If you were ever scared or felt unsafe in
If you were ever scared or felt unsafe in Monterrey, please
briefly state the reason. shortly describe what happened.

(One answer is sufficient)

(all results shown)

- Have to give 800 pesos to the cops because they arrested a friend with an empty bottle
- The general fact that there are killings in the local supermarket is enough to make you
feel unsafe, along with a heavy military presence in the city. Not to mention the unsafe
traffic (which has nothing to do with the narcos)
- The police robbing.
They stole as everything or threaten us with taking us to a cell if we do not give them
everything we had.
- Estuve en la arena Coliseo viendo la lucha libre cuando hubo una balacera justo en
frente. Toda la gente huyo en todos lados, los niños lloraban... Finalmente, la policia vino
y pudimos salir del edificio sin problema
- the "big" shooting in front of the TEC and one private thing
- You feel unsafe at night because you will be the only person in the streets.
- during a party when the police went on the apartments
- We got arrested by police. The police came inside the house and took us to the police
station, stole from us etc... My friends have had problems with narcos a lot...
- gunfire outside the apartment
- shootings in places i was only moments ago
- Shooting. 6

- Estuve en la arena Coliseo viendo la lucha libre cuando hubo una balacera justo en
frente. Toda la gente huyo en todos lados, los niños lloraban... Finalmente, la policia vino
y pudimos salir del edificio sin problema
- the "big" shooting in front of the TEC and one private thing

3. If you were ever scared or felt unsafe in
- You feel unsafe at night because you will be the only person in the streets.
- during a party when the police went on the apartments

- We got arrested by police. The police came inside the house and took us to the police
station, stole from us etc... My friends have had problems with narcos a lot...
- gunfire outside the apartment
- shootings in places i was only moments ago
- Shooting.
- Some old guys decided to dance with me and they clearly looked like narcos.
A guy grabbed my friend's purse while she was walking without paying attention.
- Shootings took place every night even in our street.
- police's robbing and racism
- -so prevalent violence
-absence of political activism against social turmoil
-government and people general are not well conscious and informed by the degree of
violence.
- A scary cab driver
- - experienced a shooting
- drove with a Mexican guy at night near the center and HE was REALLY scared..(in
general i experienced the Mexicans more scared than outsiders)
- Have been close to a shooting at Arena Coliseo and had to run, run, run.
- Taxidrivers asking several times if I was really driving all alone (daytime);
Handbag got stolen;

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7

- Police wanted to take me to the police station because I had alcoholic breath..
- The shooting was too near to sch and also the place that i was staying at.

4. Development of Safety
- Have to give 800 pesos to the cops because they arrested a friend with an empty bottle

5) Do you think Monterrey has become more dangerous since
you arrived?


Yes 76.6% 36
No 23.4% 11
Total responses: 47

6) Do you think it will get worse in the near future?


Yes 51.1% 23
No 48.9% 22
Total responses: 45

7) Would you recommend a girl to come here by herself? (if she
does not have a group to come with/does not know anybody
8

6) Do you think it will get worse in the near future?

Yes
5. Recommendations: Percentage Responses

51.1% 23
No
Would you recommend the following 48.9%
Total responses:
22
45

persons to come to MTY ...
FreeOnlineSurveys.com View Results 11.06.10 03:05

7)No Would you recommend a girl to come here by herself? (if she 44.4% 20
FreeOnlineSurveys.com View Results have a group to come with/does not know anybody
does not 11.06.10 03:05
Total responses: 45
yet)
A girl by herself
No 44.4% 20
Total Percentage Responses
responses: 45
8) Would you
FreeOnlineSurveys.com View Results recommend a guy to come here by herself? (if he 11.06.10 03:05
Yes
does not have a group to come with/does not know anybody 55.6% 25
No
yet) 44.4% 20
8) Would you recommend a guy to come here by herself? Total responses:
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(if he 45
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does not have a group to come with/does not know anybody Percentage Responses
A guy by himself
yet)
Yes 73.9% 34
8)No Would you recommend a guy to come here by herself? (if he 26.1% 12
does not have a group to come with/does not know anybody responses:
Total 46
Yesyet) 73.9% 34
No 26.1% 12
9) Total responses:
Would you recommend a group of people to come to study in 46
Yes 73.9% 34
AMonterrey ifof people
group they come together?
No 26.1% 12

9) Total Percentage Responses
Would you recommend a group of people to come to study inresponses: 46
Monterrey if they come together?
Yes 80.4% 37
No 19.6% 9
9) Would you recommend a group of people to come to study in
Total responses: 46
YesMonterrey if they come together? 80.4% 37
No 19.6% 9
9 Percentage Responses
Total responses: 46

No 22.0% 9
Total responses: 41

6. If you would not recommenditnew students
10) If you would not recommend new students to come, be
to come, be it guys, girls, or groups, please
guys, girls, or groups, please specify why:

(all results shown)
specify why
- Since I arrived sicarios vs police is beeing worse each day .. During weeks we could not
go out to party, and even now they had to close La Cabaña (don't know why...). We don't
know when the conflict will end so my advise is to choose another city to study.
- There are other places which are safer. (There are also other reasons which aren't
security related)
- life quality is not worth mentioning. You can't go out and feel safe.
- It's not about who comes to mty... The general atmosphere in the town is not safe.
Narcos are shooting allmost every night in some part of the city and near tec is not safe
either.
- There are better cities to study here in México
- Unsecurity. It is almost impossible to go out at night without being scared and without
something dangerous happening.
- ITESM is a good school anyway...
- for case of girl, mexico is a horrible place for female, who is considered powerless,
obedient and indecisive.

for case of guy, mexicans respect male

for case of group, by nature, a group tend not to actively engage in interaction with
mexicans. Most of thing that they may hear and see must be negative in monterrey, so
they would not have a chance to observe a positive side of monterrey.
- Girls should avoid doing things by themselves
10

either.

6. If you would not recommend new students
- There are better cities to study here in México
- Unsecurity. It is almost impossible to go out at night without being scared and without

something dangerous happening.
- ITESM is a good school anyway...

specify why
- for case of girl, mexico is a horrible place for female, who is considered powerless,
obedient and indecisive.

for case of guy, mexicans respect male

for case of group, by nature, a group tend not to actively engage in interaction with
mexicans. Most of thing that they may hear and see must be negative in monterrey, so
they would not have a chance to observe a positive side of monterrey.
- Girls should avoid doing things by themselves
- Girls traveling alone are never save.
- Girls can/should not go anywhere alone and therefore it is tough to always have to find
somebody to come with you;
it is not really a safe place at the moment, especially for women
- you cannot enjoy the city or your studies because of the omnipresent feeling und being
unsafe. You will probable also feel caged because everybody recommends you not to go
here and there. It's not about being careful anymore, you just have to be and thewrong
time at the wrong place...
- security situation
- You shouldn't go out alone, if you are a girl. If you with a group it's fine. But if you are
just a girl you are very limited.

11) Do you sometimes feel restricted due to the situation?
11

No 19.6% 9
Total responses: 46

6. If you would not recommend new students
10) If you would not recommend new students to come, be it
guys, girls, or groups, please specify why:

specify why

- they would get to know people really fast so they will be more to go out
security related)
either.



Yes, all the time 10.6 5
A lot 10.6 5
Sometimes 46.8 22
12


7. Do you sometimes feel
security related)

restricted due to the situation?
either.



Yes, all the time 10.6 5
A lot 10.6 5
eOnlineSurveys.com View Results 11.06.10 0
Sometimes 46.8 22
Rarely 25.5 12
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No, never 6.4 3
Total responses: 47

12) Are there things you do here to ensure your safety? Plaese
name briefly.
(Do not go to certain areas, not wear brand clothes, not leave the house
at night,...)

13

Total responses: 47

8. Are there things you do here to ensure
name briefly.
at night,...)
your safety?

- Stay in the area around the university and when you go out, make sure you go with a
group
- not driving that late
- Stay in the house at night, not leave the house with too much money, ensure that the
doors are locked before i sleep at night.
- - Never walk alone at night
- don't go to places you don't know alone
- Don't take a cab if it looks suspicious, even call one you know
...
- Not get into any fights with anyone in a pick up truck!

13) What else would you recommend new students? What advices
do you have?


- Enjoy it!
- dont walk by themselves at night 14

Total responses: 42

name briefly.
at night,...)

(all results shown)
your safety?
- Don't take a cab if it looks suspicious, even call one you know
...
- Brand clothes are fine, just not carry a lot of cash with you and only bring laptops,
ipods, etc when it's 100% necessary. Try not to walk alone at night. Be sure you lock
your place when you leave. You know... common sense stuff.
- Dont do things alone
- I never went alone walking and I used to take always taxis which looked safes
- Tomar mas taxis para desplazarme
- not go out alone, take a taxi i know, don't have credit card, passport,...
- Take a cab at night even for short distances. Do not go to barrio antiguo. Stay away
from clubs
- do not go to the clubs near the tec and san pedro
do not go out alone at night
always have the consul phone number in case of emergency
avoid the police and the army
- Don't walk ouitside your house when it's dark. Only use your friends cars to drive from
place to place and don't go to clubs or get drunk.
15

- Dont do things alone
- I never went alone walking and I used to take always taxis which looked safes
- Tomar mas taxis para desplazarme
- not go out alone, take a taxi i know, don't have credit card, passport,...

- Take a cab at night even for short distances. Do not go to barrio antiguo. Stay away
from clubs

your safety?
- do not go to the clubs near the tec and san pedro
do not go out alone at night
always have the consul phone number in case of emergency
avoid the police and the army
- Don't walk ouitside your house when it's dark. Only use your friends cars to drive from
place to place and don't go to clubs or get drunk.
- do not go to certain areas
- Do not go to the downtown after 10pm
- Do not go to downtown bars or parties
- Avoid walking by myself (im a girl), use authorized taxis...
- We never went to Barrio Antiguo where all the drug dealers were, went we were going
out at night always in taxi and if we were in a group always more than 3 because the
police can also cause some problem if you're only 2.
- taking a cab even though it is a walking distance.
be aware of police although I had done nothing wrong..
there are so many things I had done that I don't remember
- 1) I try not to go out at night.
2) I avoid going to discos. I prefer partying in someone's home.

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eeOnlineSurveys.com View Results
your safety? 09.06.10

- Just do not cross the river.
Do not stay outside for long time at night
Avoid away from suspiciously appeared men
- Avoid San Nicolas, beware of taxis past 11pm, don't walk too far west of campus
- Just try not to do things alone.
- Do not walk alone after 3 am on the street
Do not go to the "Carretera Nacional" at night
Always take safe taxis
- - i never wear jewellery or high class brands
- i take always taxis at night (never walk alone!)
- i have always the emergency numbers from the TEC with me
- Leave my credit card at home and take always some cash to bribe policemen.
- Only take secure taxis
Never take a taxi alone
Not go to Barrio Antiguo
Not go to major events to avoid mass panics (due to shootings)
Not walk on the streets at night
Never walk anywhere alone
Always assure with Mexicans that Clubs are safe
Basically only go to house parties
Not live with a male mexican roommate again
Not dress over stylish or wear a lot of jewellery
17
Moved to Vias Tec

- - i never wear jewellery or high class brands
- i take always taxis at night (never walk alone!)
- i have always the emergency numbers from the TEC with me
- Leave my credit card at home and take always some cash to bribe policemen.

- Only take secure taxis
Never take a taxi alone
Not go to Barrio Antiguo
your safety?
Not go to major events to avoid mass panics (due to shootings)
Not walk on the streets at night
Never walk anywhere alone
Always assure with Mexicans that Clubs are safe
Basically only go to house parties
Not live with a male mexican roommate again
Not dress over stylish or wear a lot of jewellery
Moved to Vias Tec
Only take secure taxis
- Take safe taxis, never go out alone in the night
- Take a taxi for the shortest distance. Not going out besides to privat parties. Not
walking alone through the streets (esprecially as a girl).
- I only go out in a group at night, I don't take a taxi alone (even during the day), I
rather go to student parties than to clubs or bars
- When i go out i just have my ID from the TEC and a few money. I rarely take my credit
card with me
- To know where are to go and where not
- always take a taxi
- don't go to Barrio Antiguo
don't go out alone at nights

13) What else would you recommend new 18
students? What advices

- don't go to Barrio Antiguo
don't go out alone at nights

9. What else would you

recommend new students?
do you have?

(all results shown)

- If they want to go to Tec, go to a different campus.
- Use common sense. Monterrey is not any more dangerous than other large cities in the
world. There's been violence due to the drugs war but that doesn't affect civilians in
general.
- To live in a safe neighbourhood, not to walk alone, not to trust anyone, and do not stay
closer to the cops...
- Tener cuidado cuando salen de noche. Siempre regresar en taxi.
- avoid risky situations, take a taxi at night and don't be too drunk

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eOnlineSurveys.com View Results 09.06.10 17

- listen to the precautions tec is telling you when you arrive. they are right!!! Don't feel
pressured to go to clubs if you don't feel safe. don't use taxis from the streets.
- enjoy your time... dont do stupid things.. dont risk yourselves
- Go to Querétaro's Campus
- Try to leave near the campus, try to stay on large groups, if you come alone don't
worry you will easily make new friends, take advantage of campus facilities such as
circuito tec.
- I would just not recommend to do an exchange in Monterrey or in Mexico. Since I
arrived (January 2010) the insecurity went to "none existent" to something you
encounter everyday. It restricted us to do a lot of things we could have done.
- I highly recommend coming to Monterrey. Even though things are turning kind of
difficult, Monterrey is still a great city. There are a few steps you should follow that will
keep you safe:
1) Make new friends and NEVER walk alone in the night. Chances are nothing will
happen but probability increases when you are walking alone.
2) Walk in lighted streets.
3) Don't go to dangerous spots in the city.
- Better not to flirt with extremely hot women in club, since they could belong to narco's
mistress
- be smart and use your gut feelings.
- Bring money for traveling and beer. Seriously.
20
- don't expect to be able to move as freely as you would do in Germany!!

circuito tec.
- I would just not recommend to do an exchange in Monterrey or in Mexico. Since I
arrived (January 2010) the insecurity went to "none existent" to something you
encounter everyday. It restricted us to do a lot of things we could have done.

- I highly recommend coming to Monterrey. Even though things are turning kind of
difficult, Monterrey is still a great city. There are a few steps you should follow that will
keep you safe:

1) Make new friends and NEVER walk alone in the night. Chances are nothing will
happen but probability increases when you are walking alone.
2) Walk in lighted streets.
3) Don't go to dangerous spots in the city.
- Better not to flirt with extremely hot women in club, since they could belong to narco's
mistress
- be smart and use your gut feelings.
- Bring money for traveling and beer. Seriously.
- Don't stay at home, because you are scared.
- Do not go out alone
Come here with a group
Always assure with several Mexicans that the place you want to go to is safe
Live in Torres or Vias Tec (!!!)
Be careful what mexicans you live with and whom (in general) you move in with
See also previous question
Try to not protect your handbag, it makes you suspicious
Watch the news and talk to people
Do not believe everything that TEC tells you
Do not call the police, call TEC or if profoundly bad, the military
- respect normal rules security
- Just be careful!!!
- live together with people you trust, avoid going to specifc places like barrio antiguo
- Avoid crowed public places at night. Rather go to student parties than to any unknown
clubs or bars at night.
21

- Don't stay at home, because you are scared.
- Do not in the area around the university and when you go out, make sure you go with a
- Stay go out alone
Come here with a group
group

Always assure with several Mexicans that the place you want to go to is safe
- not driving that late
Live in Torres or Vias Tec (!!!)
Be careful what mexicans you live with and whom (in general) youmoney,in with that the
- Stay in the house at night, not leave the house with too much move ensure
See alsoare lockedquestion sleep at night.
doors previous before i

Try to not protect your handbag, it makes you suspicious
Watch the news and talk to people
Do not believe everything that TEC tells you
Do not call the a cab if call TEC suspicious, even bad, one you know
- Don't take police, it looks or if profoundly call the military
...
- respect normal rules security
- Just be careful!!!
- live together with people you trust, avoid going to specifc places like barrio antiguo
- Avoid crowed public places at night. Rather go to student parties than to any unknown
clubs or bars at night.
- I would just recommend them to be careful and enjoy their trip in Monterrey.
do you have?
- Don't feel too scared. It's very subjective, what the people say. As well they are not
telling last five responses are given)
(The their good experience :)
- Just come to Monterrey and enjoy your time!
- Enjoy it!
- dont walk by themselves at night
- If they want to go to Tec, go to a different campus.
- Use common sense. Monterrey is not any more dangerous than other large cities in the
world. There's been violence due to the drugs war but that doesn't affect civilians in
general.
- To live in a safe neighbourhood, not to walk alone, not to trust anyone, and do not stay
closer to the cops...

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Last advice

Have FUN in Mexico
Thank you for reading

23

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Survey: Safety Feeling of Students in Monterrey

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