Crosswords and Crossroads: Puzzles, Perseverance, and a Campus Safety Fight
Every student at the University of Chicago (UChicago) has, at some point, received at least one anxiety-inducing email from Eric Heath about a reported robbery near campus. For many, these alerts are more than just unsettling notifications—they trace back to real stories involving a friend or a friend-of-a friend who has faced the terrifying reality of an armed robbery firsthand. These experiences are not rare or distant; they are happening constantly around us, shattering any illusion of safety within the campus bubble.
For one student, the sobering reality of the persistent danger that infiltrates our campus became undeniable when he, too, inevitably fell victim to an armed robbery.
Garrett Chalfin, a bright second-year student at the University of Chicago, has a knack for solving problems—whether they’re clever word challenges or life-threatening crises. Known by his peers on campus for crafting intricate crossword puzzles for esteemed outlets like The New York Times, Chalfin faced a far more sobering test of his skills one Saturday evening in November. Having just stepped out of a warm apartment party atmosphere around the corner, he and his girlfriend were robbed at gunpoint—mere feet from his student dormitory at Campus North Residential Commons.
“We were leaving a friend’s party and decided to walk back. It was close to campus, and we thought we’d be safe,” Chalfin recounts.
Around 12 AM a black car sped toward them, its doors ominously ajar.
“Three men stormed out, one holding a gun to my girlfriend’s head,” he recalled. “She felt the cold metal on her temple. Meanwhile, others patted me down, taking my phone and belongings.”
While the police response was quick—arriving within five minutes—Chalfin expressed frustration with their communication.
“They wanted my laptop to track my phone, but it took 10 minutes to even explain that. In moments like that, clear communication is essential.”
The aftermath of the attack left Chalfin grappling with sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and cognitive decline.
“I received a lot of correspondence after the robbery from various sectors of the university, but none offered to assist with my pressing needs. Indeed, after the scariest, most traumatizing experience of my life, it appeared as if the university forgot about my humanity. After the robbery, we spent an hour crying while being surrounded by police, the dean on call, RHs and RAs in the public Campus North lobby. I had to be the one to suggest that we find a private space. It was dehumanizing and degrading. In the aftermath of the robbery, I was not a functional person. My room was incredibly messy, I had few clean clothes, I did not have the cognitive abilities to navigate alone on campus which was a truly scary decline, I could not focus in class and I could not keep food down. Besides offering counseling, the university did nothing to support my wellbeing,” he said.
However, a therapeutic technique called the Flash Method (“Flash”) helped Chalfin process the trauma by attempting to equip him with the ability to replace lingering emotional distress with fonder memories. The “Flash” is often used in trauma therapy, and requires the client to concentrate on a positive memory from the past while also concentrating on a distraction stimulus, such the therapist’s moving hand whilst counting aloud.
Although Garret sought this treatment from a private therapist, UChicago offers trauma therapy through various programs, including the Violence Recovery Program (VRP) at UChicago Medicine, the REACT program, and UChicago Student Wellness. These programs offer a variety of services, including psychological support, referrals to community resources, and specialized interventions for trauma and violence.
“After 20 minutes [of therapy] the memory felt like it happened 30 years ago,” he shared.
The incident left him shaken but resolute, highlighting his capacity to navigate crisis and channel adversity into advocacy. In other words, this robbery catalyzed Chalfin’s push for stronger campus security measures, and he has since openly criticized university protocols and the head of security, Eric Heath.
“I emailed Eric Heath directly because I was curious how it was possible for a robbery to feet away from a residential dorm during a high-traffic period [at] about 12am Saturday night. His response surprised me because, rather than admit wrongdoing, he offered a broad defense of existing practices: claiming that the security guard normally stationed at Campus North was on perimeter duty, and that sometimes muggings like mine can occur too quickly for them to catch — despite the crime being relatively long and complex, between the robbers chasing me, confronting us, stealing our things, and running back into their car, ” he described.
“I was surprised that he didn’t come to the same conclusion I did: security policies that can cause a student to have a life threatening situation on campus are failing security policies. On a personal level, such a complacent response felt brazen, insulting and uncompassionate given the suffering and trauma I was actively experiencing.” Chalfin added.
As his next step, Chalfin championed for leadership changes, sought out the opinions of senior administrators, and emphasized his aspirations for better police communication and school response tactics during crises.
“Eric seemed to be evaluated based on effort, not efficacy. Despite the challenges of keeping our campus secure, every incident like mine should be treated like an unacceptable travesty. I was sure to get this point across in my response to Eric’s email, where I cc’d over 50 people who care about me and my safety – including friends, professors, University leaders, a member of the board of trustees and members of the New York City private school community – so Eric could realize how damaging these incidents are to the victims and the reputation of the University. In my response, I explained that Eric should be able to guarantee our on-campus safety, or he should resign. He never replied to my email, but I trust that he will take future incidents much more seriously; if not for our sake, than for his,” Chalfin explained.
While the robbery left him shaken and frustrated with the university’s response, Chalfin simultaneously finds solace in a different type of challenge—one that similarly requires patience and ingenuity. In other words, creating crossword puzzles has offered Chalfin a positive counterbalance to the struggles he has faced. An accomplished crossword creator, he has had nine published in The New York Times and several more in other outlets, including the Los Angeles Times.
“Creating crosswords is my flow state. It’s a joyful process, whether I’m on a beach or an airplane,” he said.
Chalfin’s fascination with crosswords began at a Jewish sleepaway camp when he was eleven. By solving puzzles alongside friends, he bridged disparate interests and fostered connections.
“Even the jocks joined in. The variety of trivia allowed everyone to contribute,” he said. By the end of that summer, Garrett had solved nearly 100 puzzles and even attempted to construct his own. Years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he rediscovered the software that he had installed on his computer when he was younger and his passion reignited as he set his eyes on submitting his work to highly esteemed publications like The New York Times.
“It took 25 tries before my first puzzle was accepted,” Chalfin admits. “The process is a mix of creativity, perseverance and a little luck.”
His puzzles often feature clever themes and wordplay, with clues designed to surprise and delight solvers. However, the creative process is not as simple as it may seem.
“You can make a bad crossword very quickly. It takes a while to make a good one, because it doesn’t come from the actual filling process, but rather your own creative ideas and ingenuity that allow your crossword puzzle to sort of stand out. […] It’s been about five years of puzzle making.”
At UChicago, Chalfin rejoices in the thought of having found his intellectual home as a philosophy and political science major with an interest in business economics.
“I’ve met amazing people here,” he says. “The College has allowed me to foster relationships and grow in ways I’m incredibly grateful for.”
Chalfin also actively gives back to a campus that has encouraged him to pursue his interests with bravery, and cherishes how his intellectual passions have become a vessel for connection with his peers who may also be interested in joining the puzzling arena.
“Simply put, I think that our best thinking happens when it’s with other people. […] I don’t really write puzzles by myself anymore. I think I’ve written like four puzzles by myself this year, and like 20 with other people. [..] The crossword community, for such a competitive venture, is very loving, caring, and supportive of everyone. Every win is celebrated as a group win. It’s been nice to pay some of the mentorship I received forward to newer constructors as well.”
Chalfin is not just a problem solver but a builder of connections. His experiences, both harrowing and triumphant, have all played a crucial role in shaping his personal philosophy, one that encourages him to use his talents to enrich the lives of others, whether through advocacy or the joy of a well-crafted crossword puzzle. He encourages students to attempt to solve his last puzzle, which was published on December 5th. Chalfin shared that his next work is predicted to be published on a Sunday this Spring.
“I think it’s the best crossroad I’ve ever written. So I encourage you all to solve it. It represents years of dedication and creative growth,” he said.
Whether working on crossword puzzles or advocating for change, Chalfin embodies resilience, creativity and unwavering self advocacy. After having had time to reflect on the university’s reaction to a circumstance that brings many students together in a harrowing way either as witnesses or direct victims of a previous armed robbery, he hopes to channel his frustration into productive change.
“If the University must be involved in the aftermath of on-campus incidents (and, evidently, they must) they ought to be able to productively help. I worry greatly for the student who does not have the resources my girlfriend and I did. The Dean of Students in the College is working on this problem and is attempting to put more robust support measures in place. To do our part, my girlfriend and I are planning on donating (and raising) money to establish a small fund to help students in similar situations with their emergent needs. Despite our reputation, I wish the university cared more for its students — if not on a daily basis, than at least in times of dire need.” he added.
“Life throws barriers at us,” he reflected. “But with the right skills and support, we can navigate even the toughest challenges. […] I cherish collaboration and connection,” Chalfin concluded.
Image by C. L. Palacios, licensed under Attribution 2.0 Generic Deed.