The university had been in a state of terror and tension since early November, when two rapes and an assault took place on campus, said senior Jared Brooslin, a spokesperson for the UMass-Amherst student government. Chalk slogans saying "Castrate Rapists" and "Walk in Pairs" appeared on sidewalks, and students looked over their shoulders when alone.

"The atmosphere was tense," he said. "Everyone would walk in groups, women wouldn't stand next to men alone at bus stops. Everyone was arming themselves, carrying pepper spray and whistles."

Students learned about the retraction today through e-mail messages from administrators and campus news sources. Chancellor David Scott issued a press release Wednesday with the details of the retraction.

Students were not entirely surprised by the retraction. Rumors have circulated for weeks that one or two of the attacks were bogus, according to junior Marni Hanlon. And Brooslin noted that the scene of the falsified crime--a public area in the center of the campus--is not a likely spot for a violent assault.

"Some people were questioning the incident because of the area where it happened was very high traffic," Brooslin said. "They couldn't imagine that it happened with no witnesses."

"At the same time, you don't want to question assault reports," Brooslin said.

Part of the student outcry after the assaults was directed against the university, which they said had not properly responded to their safety concerns.