<p>Maybe I just don't know enough about UMass Amherst, but for the first time ever I read about this thing called the "rape trail". What in the world is that? and how did it get that name? Are rape incidents common @ UMass Amherst??
That scares the hell out of me - I would NOT feel safe attending a school that says "oh yeah, rape happens from time to time here".</p>
<p>I also read that come security things like Call buttons/stations are broken and not fixed, and some of the RA's don't even care about drunk students running around the halls - and worse, when the police came no one got in trouble?</p>
<p>Ok, I know that in any college/university people party - some parties get so out of hand police need to get there - I know it happens everywhere, ivies or not. BUT what is the real situation at UMass? Is it really that bad?</p>
<p>I’ve said this so many times before but my friends who do go to private schools party as hard if not more than the majority of students here. Its true since theres every type of person you’ll get those students in southwest who party all the time but its really not as much as people think. I’m an RA and honestly every other RA would not let some one whos clearly drunk free in the hallway. That’s how we’ll get fired. People here are normal college students with most of them having the motto work hard party hard.
I am currently abroad right now and I can really say Amherst is an incredibly safe place compared with every where else I’ve ever been. Its the typical college town: I can walk back at literally any time and be completely fine, something I’ve done before. If you are obviously drunk and causing problems you will be caught.
Also the rape trail is a really dumb joke. Its the kinda isolated trail between Sylvan and O hill (a trail few people take) and in the 70s the joke started up as oh thats kinda of a sketchy path. Umass has now paved it and installed lights so its not as bad but the name stuck. Thats it.</p>
<p>Thanks fireandice07!
And this is a little unrealted to the safety issue, but, what is it like being an RA?
Do you enjoy it? Do you need to go approach drunk/under-some-influence/misbehaving people, or break up parties(doesn’t that requie a little courage?)? ? Do you do your “shifts” alone?</p>
<p>CafeTrebleClef, When I was looking at schools with my older daughter, we were told there were “rape Trails” at both University of Delaware and UConn. No matter where you go to school , you need to exercise caution, do not walk alone on a dark isolated path. Unfortunately, rape happens at college campuses more often than you think. However, I agree with fireanddice, I do not think rape path refers to a place where rape frequently occurs , college kids refer to sketchy paths as “rape trails” at many schools.</p>
<p>Thank you lsn312!
Whatever college I end up going to, I will be certain not to walk alone at night. Hopefully I’ll know which paths are most frequented by students so that I don’t walk in isolated places.
Rape happens more often than I think? Well, I guess I expected it to happen occasionally but not THAT often? Is it so common in any college/university that there may be several occurances every year?</p>
<p>If you google “school name crime statistics” the report will most likely be one of the first few links that turn up.</p>
<p>One thing to note in the UMass report is that most reported sexual assault takes place in the dorms. So while it is always wise to be cautious and aware while walking around at night, really it’s very safe.</p>