Sex Crime Statistics A Sign of Progress

Author: Daniel Phillips

Statistics can be misleading. Such is the case with recent sex offense statistics released by the Middlebury College Department of Public Safety on Oct. 20. Crime as a whole - robbery, burglary, aggravated assault and arson - has gone down on campus, but before the College breathes a collective sigh of relief, it should be aware that reported forcible sex offenses have more than tripled, rising from two reports in 2001 to seven in 2002, with one case already reported in the first half of 2003.

A rise in reported sex offense statistics can be considered a good thing on any college campus, however paradoxical that may seem. It is widely understood that sex offenses, both forcible and non-forcible, occur regardless of whether or not they are in fact reported.

According Middlebury Police Department Chief Tom Hanley, sexual assault, which includes, but is not limited to, rape, is the most underreported crime due to the stigma that is involved. Public Safety announced the first of the College's biannual publications of this year's reported security data, assembled by the Dean of Student Affairs Office and the Middlebury Police Department. The security report was released in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

The Police Department provides Public Safety with statistical information regarding crimes on public and private property adjacent or contiguous to campus, as defined by federal law. Hanley noted that hospitals are required by law to store the data of all tests taken from victims in an index within the Police Department's inventory. Victims of sexual assault are often particularly sensitive to the hospital investigation and court proceedings that could ensue after reporting such a crime, so most choose to remain unheard and unnoticed.

"A big part of the reason sexual assaults have been underreported on this campus, and college campuses across the country," said Elizabeth Brookbank '04, president of Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM), "is because there is a lack of awareness which makes survivors feel isolated." Brookbank continued, "People have the idea that this type of assault does not happen here. When it does, it is more likely that the survivor of the assault will blame themselves and less likely that they will report the incident."

Brookbank explained how a woman's abililty to report a sexual assault comes from the knowledge that she is not alone, and that there is an aware, supportive community around her that will take the incident seriously.

"The feeling and knowledge that Middlebury is a supportive community for survivors has been growing over the last couple years due to efforts by groups and individuals to increase awareness," said Brookbank in reference to a resurgence of community discussion about sexual assault that started two years ago.

At the end of spring term 2002, a "study group" pioneered by Dean of Student Affairs Ann Hanson met to review the College's standing sexual assault policy. The group brought together representatives from the student body, the Department of Public Safety, the Office of Health and Wellness Education, Parton Health Center and the commons offices to address numerous concerns posted and published community-wide. One poster even accused the College of "silencing" survivors' voices.

Assistant Director of Counseling and Human Relations Virginia Logan recalled that the Sexual Assault Policy Working Group (SAPWG) emerged because a comfortable climate for reporting offenses had not existed despite increasing community discussions about related issues. SAPWG met regularly last fall to address different aspects of the problem at hand. One group changed Handbook language, one dealt with the judicial situation and another addressed anonymous reporting. This fall, Hanson brought the discussion to the table at Community Council, which passed several recommendations last week. The issue of anonymous reporting still remains unresolved.

"I believe that the continued discussions in the community about the underreporting and the work of the Sexual Assault Policy Work Group helped to encourage people to make reports," commented Lisa Boudah, director of Public Safety and associate dean of Student Affairs.

For as long as Brookbank has been a member of FAM, sexual assault has constantly been on the group's agenda, whether it was through posters, speakers, Take Back the Night events or other initiatives. "Raising awareness about sexual assault has always been a top priority for FAM, and it will remain one," Brookbank stated.

According to Dr. Mark Peluso, medical director and team physician at Parton Health Center, two nurse practitioners and one nurse are currently participating in Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training which will enable the Health Center to assess and treat sexual assault victims. In the past, students had to be referred to the Porter Hospital Emergency Room for assessment. "With this training and some equipment, we will be able to offer qualified assessments in both locations, giving victims more choice," said Peluso.

"Our job at the Health Center is to provide compassionate care while respecting our patients' confidentiality. While we offer assistance and support with reporting, in the end it is the patient's choice that matters," said Peluso.

The numbers do not lie. Members of the Middlebury community are reporting sex offenses. It is still unclear whether there has been an actual rise in sexual assaults on campus. Hanley claimed it would impossible to know for sure unless a scientific confidential survey was administered. "We have a refrigerator full of Jane Doe cases," he commented, citing anonymous victims who fail to follow through with investigations despite a recent push for education on assault. Logan had similar sentiments, conjecturing that the whole process, stimulated by an increased concern and a change in policy, has made many more people aware of these issues by working together for proactive change. "If people report more, there may be more the College can change to make a difference," she said.