Rape reports rise at state colleges

Experts: Victims still keeping silent

The number of rapes reported to university police or campus authorities increased last year at some of the largest universities in the state, according to annual campus security reports.

But sexual assaults remain underreported, experts said. The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville saw reported rapes increase to nine in 2017 compared with five in 2016. The University of Central Arkansas listed six reported rapes in 2017 compared with four in 2016.

“An increase in numbers is not necessarily a bad thing, because it indicates that people are choosing to make use of the reporting system in place and share that information,” said Laura Egan, senior director of programs for the nonprofit Clery Center, which works with colleges to help them comply with safety reporting requirements.

By Oct. 1 each year, colleges and universities must release an annual security report that includes crime statistics. Reports of rape at the five largest colleges and universities in Arkansas totaled 22 last year, with the

schools having a combined enrollment this fall of about 75,600 students.

“The sexual assault data should not be viewed as anything but the tip of the iceberg. Sexual assaults are typically underreported,” said S. Daniel Carter, president of SAFE Campuses LLC, a consultant group that works with schools and others.

Capt. Gary Crain with UA-Fayetteville police said that in 2015 the campus had seven reports of rape, describing the total as fluctuating from year-to-year and something that “depends on whether people are willing to report.”

“This is a crime that is underreported,” Crain said.

The totals include not only reports made to police, but also to people who are defined to be campus security authorities. At UA-Fayetteville, the list of campus security authorities include deans, coaches and resident assistants, among others.

Crain said that out of the nine rape reports, four went to police for a criminal investigation.

Students who disclose an assault to a campus security authority may choose not to involve police. Schools have separate campus investigations that involve a Title IX coordinator and can provide students with interim measures such as changes to housing or course schedules.

The campus process can also result in a decision on whether a student is responsible for sexual misconduct, with sanctions that include possible expulsion.

Amanda Hoelzeman, director of media relations for the University of Central Arkansas, said in an email that the school emphasizes the prevention of sexual misconduct and encourages students to report any assaults.

“We believe the small uptick can largely be attributed to these efforts,” Hoelzeman said. “We are pleased that our training is working and that

members of our UCA community feel more comfortable coming forward, but our goal is to eliminate sexual misconduct on our campus.”

Arkansas State University listed six forcible sex offenses in 2017, while Arkansas Tech University listed one and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock did not have any reported over the same time period, according to the schools’ reports.

Carter said the reporting requirements do not extend beyond certain campus boundaries, yet many sexual assaults take place in private apartments or other places.

He said the reporting requirements also generally involve the disclosure of the most serious crimes. There were a total of six aggravated assaults at the five largest Arkansas universities, according to their annual reports.

Carter said the reports have value beyond the numbers.

“There’s information about crime prevention programming, access controls for student residential facilities, and sexual assault policies that are all disclosed in annual security reports,” Carter said.