University of Massachusetts - Safety & Security

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

A strong focus is placed on safety and security, both on and off campus. Colleges in general tend to have very high crime rates, and when theft occurs at UMass, it is usually nonviolent and involves microscopes, car stereos, and books. Certain areas of UMass experience more crime than others, a statistic that inevitably coincides with population size. These areas include Southwest, parking lots, and the many off-campus apartment complexes. Students can take many steps to protect themselves from crime such as walking with friends, walking in well-lit areas, being vocal, locking doors, never leaving a personal item unattended, carrying a cell phone, and remaining alert at all times.

On the weekends, UMass completely lives up to its nickname, “the Zoo.” Parties result in riots and fights, which occur not only at campus housing, but also at the off-campus housing. The police department is located right in the middle of campus, and they do a very good job of keeping things from getting out of hand. Also, UMass has an amazing transportation system that is free and makes it very safe to travel around Amherst at night. Between the Amherst Police Department and the UMass Police Department, most students seem to feel safe on campus.

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Students Speak Out

nrdowney says: University of Massachusetts 2012 Social Sciences

Rumors Keep You on Your Toes... B Rather safe than sorry, I've been warned not to take drinks from people, not to walk alone at night, and not to leave my valuables unattended. Thus far, I've taken all of those chances and never had anything bad happen, but some might say that's good luck. I'm never worried that anything is going to happen to me but I probably should be more cautious because its so big that I don't know everyone around me. 12345 Safety & Security: November 18, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

My freshman year, I heard about... My freshman year, I heard about these people who were all dressed up and came to a northeast building, telling people to leave for an hour so they could fumigate. Then, when the students got back, all of their valuable stuff was gone. What a great idea for a robbery! 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Honestly, security and safety need... Honestly, security and safety need improvement. There have been attacks and rapes on campus, but they’re improving on security. There are a lot of resources to use if you’re willing to help yourself. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

Occasionally, non-students come... Occasionally, non-students come onto campus and cause problems, but there isn’t any way to prevent that. The only time I have ever felt nervous was walking around at night, both during the week and on the weekends. Just be aware of your surroundings and lock your dorm room whenever you aren’t there, and stay in crowded places, unless it’s a riot. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

I have never felt unsafe at... I have never felt unsafe at school. There are always cops all over the place. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Did You Know?

The most read section of the UMass Daily Collegian is the “police log” section, which records any arrests that took place on campus.

The UMass police department commonly patrols campus by horseback.

A popular scam at UMass is that at the end of each semester, people who are not affiliated with the University go around to each dorm and pay people cash for their textbooks, usually about $5 per book. This practice is illegal, and you can actually get quite a bit more for your books when you are done with them by bringing them directly to the textbook annex.

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