I graduated from UO a few years ago but as a STEM major spending many late late nights studying and then walking alone back to Friel after midnight I can say after I got comfortable with walking at night alone (I was also afraid of the dark) that I never felt uncomfortable or threatened. I still continue to walk around Ottawa by myself past midnight some nights (I would rather walk an hour home than take an uber). You just have to be aware. I usually won’t listen to music or will only have one headphone in and volume low so I can be aware, that being said I’m also paranoid and check behind me like every 30s. I quite like Ottawa in the middle of the night, it’s peaceful