Concern about safety has increased greatly at Babson and Wellesley Colleges since the alleged on-campus rape September 18 of a Babson student and subsequent press attention, women at the two colleges said yesterday.
Four men were arrested Monday and arraigned Tuesday at Dedham County Court-house for the September 18 incident, which allegedly occurred after a party when the victim went to a male friend's dorm room. They will be tried October 13 in the same court.
Bail
The suspects, who were released on $20,000 bail, are Leonard D. Cameron, aged 21, Paul A. Langford, aged 21, William P. Langford, aged 23, and Darrock B. MacKintosh, aged 23, a former Babson student
Signs posted around the Wellesley campus now warn students about the incident, the third on the Babson campus this year, and urge women to be careful. Use of the escort service has increased from about 50 requests a night to as many as 146 since the Babson incident. Wellesley police said yesterday. Local newspapers have also covered the incident extensively.
At Babson, each dorm has held meetings to discuss safety and security procedures and urge use of the escort service, and the student government has met with the president and the dean of the college on the issue, students said.
"You don't even feel sale walking across the street" after dark. Beth F. landoli, a Wellesley sophomore, said yesterday.
Babson students interviewed yesterday said that though there is concern, they still feel relatively confident of campus security. "Everybody is taking precautions, but it is not like the news is making out, that you can't walk alone on campus during the daytime," said one student, who asked to remain unidentified.
"I guess I am scared, but I wouldn't walk around alone anyway." Babson student Lands M. Lackey added.
Babson officials yesterday refused to comment on the incident, and one said the press is "needlessly antagonizing the community."
Several Harvard undergraduates said yesterday they had not heard of the incident, and some said they feel no danger walking anywhere in the Yard. "I go to Store 24 at four in the morning and don't feel scared," Diane M. Cardwell '86 said yesterday.
But another freshman, who experienced a verbal assault, noted that "after 11 p.m. there is no one around and there are lots of little places where people can hide."
The last rape reported on campus was in spring of 1981 near Hilles Library. Two other incidents since then have been investigated, but neither was classified after further investigation as rape by Harvard University police
