An Amherst study abroad program has shut down after mishandling a situation involving an alleged rape of a student attending a University of Massachusetts-affiliated program in Costa Rica.
“Living Routes on North Pleasant Street — which employed six people — is closing its doors after 13 years this week after UMass suspended its relationship over what a vice provost described as a ‘serious, and potentially life threatening, health/safety issue’ involving a student enrolled in its program at the Monteverde Institute in Costa Rica,” the article reported. Living Routes did not report the rape incident until 20 days after it was first reported, UMass officials said. The Living Routes program is held at the Monteverde Institute in Costa Rica, an “educational institution where other study-abroad programs are run.”
The specifics of the incident have not been released, but the news article reported a 20-year-old student was allegedly raped in the beach town of Montezuma.
“The incident led to Monteverde Institute firing two of its program directors who helped the victim, including its academic director who ran the Living Routes program on the ground in Costa Rica. The action by UMass forced Living Routes to cancel its spring 2014 programs, which affected 28 students from around the country”.
Living Routes was founded in 1999, and has placed 1,485 students in various study abroad programs around the world. Yet in lacking in this year’s spring tuition and cash reserves, the program had no other choice but to shut down.
The article reported a letter proved Living Routes learned of the recent sexual assault on December 2, but withheld information from the UMAass International Programs Office. UMass learned about the incident on December 18, when they received a concerned email from a resident of Monteverde. On December 22, Living Routes confirmed the incident and provided the name of the victim after multiple requests for the identity of the student.
“Living Routes’ deliberate withholding of critical information is unacceptable in multiple respects,” Jack Ahern, vice provost for international programs at UMass wrote. “The university has grave concerns regarding Living Routes’ ability to fulfill its contractual obligations to be responsible for all health, risk and safety issues that may arise during a program’s term.”
Millions of American middle, high school and college students are encouraged to go abroad "on the opportunity of a lifetime" every year. Their well-being is not well-protected by laws currently in place. There is no federal oversight. There are no qualifications or minimum standards. There is no mandatory, transparent reporting on the safety record of programs entrusted with their health, safety & future.
Help us stop the abuse and neglect of America's students on programs abroad. They deserve safeguards. Safety means the world to American students overseas. Safety is NOT an accident.
Write your federal lawmaker today! Demand TYS SOS - Traveling Youth & Student Standards of Sa
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