I have applied to OU for journalism & political science and it has become my best option. I received a generous scholarship,so it is really a difficult offer to turn down. Even being out-of-state, it is still my best option. I would truly love to go to this school, but I have heard that it is not a very safe school, especially for women. I’ve read that reported sexual assault and rape cases are unusually high at OU, and there are plenty more that go unreported. I understand that this is a problem on most college campuses and in the real world, but I DO NOT want to be in a environment where it is a frequent thing. I’ve heard that there are guys at OU who have named one of the frat houses “the rape house”. This is not the kind of thing I want to be around. I understand that if I go there, I don’t have to be a part of the party scene and go to parties at “the rape house”. I’m sure I’ll go to parties, but I’m not planning on going out and getting completely wasted to the point where I can’t remember anything and I’m vomiting all over the place every weekend. Anyway, my questions are: is it safe for me to go there? If I go there, are there any ways to keep myself safer; I know there’s no way to avoid it if I’m being attacked, but are there certain places on campus/in Athens to avoid? Also are there any other issues like this at OU that I should be aware of?
@sarahcon97 Hey, I live in Cleveland so I know a good amount of people that go to OU or have at least visited. To be honest with you (and I’m unbiased, I have no interest in going there) I haven’t heard that rape and sexual assault happen that much there. It happens everywhere like you said, I don’t think OU is out of the ordinary. If you don’t like to party as much just don’t go to frats and like in the town of Athens late at night and you’ll be safe. Halloween is insane there so just stay away from that if you’re not tryna turn up. Their journalism school is really good by the way. There are girls from my school who didn’t have very good stats that I know just get f***d up every weekend, and nothing I haven’t heard any negative things about them in terms of safety. Athens is in the middle of nowhere tho just saying haha.
Athens is on the list (#31) of “Safest College Towns:” http://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-college-towns-america-2015/
There are some big names on this “100 Most Dangerous Campuses” list (but not Ohio U): http://www.american-school-search.com/colleges/dangerous
They must use very different metrics. For example Princeton is on both lists.
Amherst and Hampshire are also on both lists. Take everything with a grain of salt.
american-school-search is a bit of a scam site, designed to channel applicants to certain for-profit colleges. Their safety rankings are hilariously bad. Some of the safest schools in the nation are at the top of their list as hotbeds of violent crime.
Sadly if you are looking for a campus with no sexual assaults you will end up taking an online degree.
I will answer this question even though it was a while ago… OU is a party school most of the rapes for done in parties after the girl gets supper drunk as long as you stay with a group of friends and dont do anything stupid while drunk you should be fine… It like any other school any other party you got to live but be responsible