Some at area colleges and universities are saying the number of acquaintance rapes reported isn't high enough.
"We get virtually no reports," said Aminta Breaux, Dean of Students at the University of the Sciences. "We want the numbers to go up because we believe it's happening and we're just not hearing about it."
While the recent report of an acquaintance rape on Penn's campus may imply otherwise, studies show that it is one of the most underreported crimes nationwide.
Philadelphia police are currently investigating the incident, which occurred in a building near 36th Street and Locust Walk last weekend, according to Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush.
Statistics provided by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape -- a statewide organization that works to prevent sexual violence -- show that fewer than 5 percent of rapes or attempted rapes of college women are reported to law enforcement officials.
Danielle Sunday, a spokeswoman for the coalition, said that even when a victim reports the crime, school officials may choose to notify the public only if it is a serious attack.
According to the same data, nine in 10 victims of rape and sexual assault among college women know their attacker.
Charlette Harrison, who manages the Violence Against Women's Act grant at the Penn Women's Center, said knowing one's attacker makes it more difficult to come forward.
"It may be someone you have to see every day for the next two or three years," she said.
The grant provides Penn, Drexel and University of the Sciences with $400,000 in federal funding to raise awareness of stalking, sexual assault and domestic and dating violence.
But the underreporting of acquaintance rape has made it difficult to evaluate its prevalence.
Although the Web site for the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control provides statistics for sexual crimes, it also cautions that the numbers do not reflect differences in how institutions define and report sexual violence.
"It's really dependent upon the college and how they track it" Sunday said.
Even when a victim is willing to press charges, they may be humiliated if the perpetrator is declared not guilty, Drexel politics professor Julie Mostov said. Mostov oversees the Drexel portion of the grant.
Breaux said that knowing what resources and counseling services are available are crucial factors in determining if a student will seek appropriate help.
Penn Director of Special Services Patricia Brennan said she tries to make sure students are aware of the issue from the day they arrive as freshmen.
"I know it's a tough subject to hear your first weekend here, but that's what we do," she said.
First-year Medical student Adrienne Laury said the recent rape report is a sign of encouragement for silent victims.
"It's almost an example to say, 'Yes, it's out there and yes, you should report it," she said.
