<p>As was the security guard. In this economy, you HAVE to be mentally unstable to want into the Wharton building? :)</p>
<p>Duke University did not even send out an alert when a student notified them of a sexual assault and robbery ON campus:</p>
<p>DUPD ends inquiry into assault case
January 27, 2010
The reported robbery and sexual assault occurred in a wooded area behind Keohane dormitory on West Campus.</p>
<p>An investigation following the report of a strong-armed robbery and sexual assault that took place on West Campus last November is no longer being actively pursued by the Duke University Police Department.</p>
<p>The incident occurred between Wannamaker Dr. and Chapel Dr. at about 10 p.m. Nov. 16, but was not reported to DUPD until Nov. 23. DUPD Assistant Chief Gloria Graham said that the department has dropped the case because it had exhausted all available leads indicating the identity of the attacker.</p>
<p>“This was a situation that caught us off guard,” Graham said. “The location wasn’t dangerous… there wasn’t a whole lot to go on.”</p>
<p>Graham reported that investigators had suggested a forensic sketch, but the victim did not feel comfortable participating.</p>
<p>Although the attack was on West, administrators did not send out a DukeALERT following the incident. The Clery Act of 1990 mandates that the University issue timely warnings about crimes that pose an immediate threat to Duke students or employees.
Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek said in a December e-mail that the administration had chosen to delay an alert until after DUPD’s investigation.</p>
<p>“Basically, we send out e-mails to the community when we can do so in a timely manner,” Wasiolek said. “ In this case, we learned about the assault a day—or more—after it happened. In addition, the information we had at the time was incomplete. I had very few details and decided to await an investigation by Duke Police and a release by them.”</p>
<p>Women’s Center Director Ada Gregory said alerts were sometimes more harmful than helpful in encouraging victims to cooperate with police investigations.
“Public notification in cases of sexual assault can often be a difficult decision,” Gregory wrote in an e-mail Tuesday. “As a result of highly publicized cases, where information was not kept confidential, many victims [would] either decline to participate in the investigative process or participate only in a guarded way. The Women’s Center hopes survivors will decide to report their attack to police as reporting is key to understanding and preventing sexual assault.”</p>
<p>You should look at a map and see where Penn is in relation to Philadelphia. And I am sure bad things happen in rural areas. And just because the school is expensive to attend doesn’t make it a safe place. The criminals know where the money is.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Huh?</p>
<p>Yes you should look at a map. The University of Pennsylvania is well within the confines of the city of Philadelphia. Penn STATE is in rural (University Park) Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>Getting information on student injuries, deaths, assaults,drug ods, rapes is impossible. Some schools keep mum about this stuff and it often does not show up in any available campus statistics. Smith lost two girls that should have graduated, and no explanation was ever given as to how they died. </p>
<p>I though Gettysburg campus was absolutely gorgeous, the kids looked so clean cut, crime looked non existent, and then…a student killed another student there last year. I have heard that the students are in the most danger from their own even at the campuses that are in high crime areas. By their own, I also include each student’s self as well as other students.</p>
<p>While many of the drinking and drug incidents are not made public, rapes, murders, and thefts are hard to hide, especially if a police report is written. And just like the poor people off the streets robbing students, many of the thefts and vandalism incidents are students who go to the same school, or their invited visitors. Many college students are strapped for cash also, so theft is common. The drinking probably fuels much of the problem.
That also brings up the question. How responsible is the college for the students well-being? Everyone wants their young adults to be free to party and have fun, but then want the school to be responsible when something happens to them.</p>
<p>tractorfarmer- Not sure what your point is here. The thread is old, and I have gained a lot of new respect for the Penn campus since the incident referenced. It appears YOU do not even know where it is located.</p>
<p>Every year about 10 friends and I have a “girls getaway”. This year it’s to Philadelphia and we are always out and about during the evening. I’ll let y’all know if I see anything untoward.</p>
<p>It is a fact that many good colleges with stellar academic reputations and name recognition are in or border bad areas. That is something to consider when making the college list. If it is a high priority concern, don’t apply to such schools. When you visit, note the security and the area around the school. Especially crucial is the availability of on campus housing for 4 years. If that is not guaranteed, and it rarely is at city colleges, that means there is a good chance your student will be living “on the economy”, in the student ghetto around the school. So peruse that area instead of going on the dorm room tour.</p>
<p>What I have seen is at such school, the tendency is for kids to get a cheap apartment or house off campus because so many students do this. Which brings in a whole other issue which I hate, hate, hate to address. So it may be very likely that your student, if s/he goes to such a school, may well be living in that area around the school, and all the security that the school offers is not going to cover being off campus.</p>
<p>I went to such a school. Every year some student apartment was burglarized, there was some confrontational incident, no one physically injured during my time, but since then I’ve read about some violet episodes that have resulted in death. </p>
<p>And yes, I think a college is responsible for providing a safe haven for its students, but it is not required. Some schools are much more open than others. Easy for anyone to walk onto the campus. Many schools also have outreach activities where the community is on campus a lot. A nice thing, but something you may want to know.</p>
<p>The Penn patrol area goes way beyond the boundaries of the actual campus, fortunately. There are STILL incidents, but the patrol really does help.</p>
<p>I agree with cptofthe house- parents who are looking at schools with a high school junior or senior better be prepared for the fact that most students do NOT live on campus all 4 years.</p>
<p>My point is, in case I didn’t use plain enough language, just because a school has a good name and is expensive to attend doesn’t make it immune to violence, especially if it is in a city. By your original post you seemed shocked that there was a shooting on the campus (in Philly). I have personally been to Penn a few times, and plenty of other places in Philly. I have nothing negative to say about Penn, but Philly can be dangerous. Would you like me to tell you how trashy and run down West Philly is? Have you been more than two blocks off of campus?
And there have been plenty of other posts besides mine, and it looks like you are #270 and keeping it alive also. I am trying to give people who use this site my honest opinion and just because you don’t find my comment relevant, maybe others will.</p>
<p>tractorfarmer- I grew up in the Phila area, attended classes at Penn, most of my family attended Penn and my son just graduated. I have been to Philadelphia many times on business and currently go there about once a month. I assure you that I know the area.</p>
<p>My original post was made because this shooting was right where my son lives (within yards) and there had been numerous debates on this forum about whether Penn was safe or whether people were overreacting about the violence in the area. We discussed the subject, and I don’t see that you have much to add. I guess I missed the posts on this forum where people think if a college has a good name it must be safe.<br>
I hope you aren’t applying.</p>
<p>And besides being a violent city, Philadelphia smells like garbage. I am always relieved to be able to leave and smell fresh air again. Every time I go to Philly I have to change my clothes because they absorb the fried oil and decomposing waste smell. When doing my search for universities, I stayed away from the ones in big cities so I wouldn’t have to worry about getting shot, so no I didn’t apply to Penn. I probably wouldn’t have been accepted anyway.</p>
<p>^^ Are you sure it was the city that smelled?? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Are you applying to Virginia Tech?</p>
<p>Actually, I’m pretty sure I like the smell of garbage better than the smell of manure. OK…maybe it’s a tie 
. Have you been out in farm country? I’m guessing the answer is yes based on your screen name. </p>
<p>No place is perfect. Penn is fine for many students…not for all. Make your choice and move on…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I have to laugh at someone who went to Nova trashing Philly…</p>
<p>Tractorfarmer went to 'Nova? For real?</p>
<p>Manhattan smells like garbage too. Ever walk the streets on summer evening? Not a breath of fresh air. Many cities have that issue. But there are big city advantages too. All of those great restaurants right there.</p>
<p>There are many benefits to living and being in the city. I like to visit…very occassionally, and usually to go to a nice restaurant. China town smells the worst, but has such good places to eat. Yes, I am a farmer, but my fruit trees don’t smell like animal manure. Yes, I went to Villanova, so did my father, but won’t say the class, since I have some negative posts here. I liked the university and education overall, but there are some things they lack. I have nothing against Penn, I never applied there but do know many people (family and friends) who enjoyed Penn and are very successful. The Penn campus is relatively safe. Philly is another issue. Sure there are better sections, but there are many areas in need of major help. It is a shame people have to live in such run down areas with all the violence. There are many places in Philly the police don’t even feel safe or are unwilling to patrol. I’m not making that up, it’s in the newspaper and visible on the street corners (day and night) for all to see. It is a shame that with all the people who live in the city, simple things like picking up trash are not done.
Sorry for adding more to the already long discussion, but apparently others have some of their personal opinions to add also. I haven’t been to Philly in over a month. Have they cleaned it up, stopped the corner drug sales, and stopped the shootings in the last 30 days?</p>