The number of rapes reported on or near campus went way up last year, and some officials are pleased about it.
"Rape is one of the most under-reported crimes," Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said. "We would actually . applaud these numbers, because they mean that more girls are feeling safe enough to come forward and report" rape.
Seven forcible rapes were reported on or near Penn's campus in 2005, compared to one in 2004.
Total crime went up about 15 percent during the same time period, according to statistics released earlier this month.
While it seems as though many more crimes - especially rapes - occurred in 2005, Penn Division of Public Safety officials say that the statistic is misleading. The rise, they say, means more rapes are being reported, not that more are occurring.
And indeed, national organizations dedicated to rape prevention have confirmed that over the past several years an increase in rape reporting has been accompanied by a decrease in rape.
"Rape is on the decline," said Darcey West, communications manager for the Washington, D.C.-based Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. "There has been a steady drop in the number of sexual assaults . but more people are reporting."
Other sexual offenses on and near campus decreased to four in 2005 from seven in 2004.
There are generally about seven to eight rape reports per year, Rush said.
West said that the greater seriousness with which the media treats sexual harassment has contributed to the upsurge in reporting.
A representative of the National Institute of Health said new laws mandating that universities report rape crime have allowed students to feel less stigmatized and more comfortable reporting rape.
West agreed with this reasoning.
"In the past, there were some problems with universities trying to cover up how many crimes were taking place, but now the Department of Justice is holding colleges accountable," West said. "Just that - the change in the ways that universities are dealing with and reporting sexual assaults - are increasing the number of reports."
Still, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey compiled by the federal Department of Justice, 58 percent of sexual assaults nationally are unreported. This number increased noticeably on college campuses, where alcohol very often comes into play, West added.
Philadelphia has also seen a spike in rapes from 2004 to 2005, with 844 and 882 cases reported respectively, according to city police. So far this year, there have been 481 reports.
The number of thefts on and near campus also rose, from 634 in 2004 to 695 in 2005, while burglaries increased from 49 to 72 during the same time.
DPS officials say the jump is attributable to more retail on campus.
"As we put more people, more buildings and more retail in University City, you have an increase in opportunity for theft, and . you will get more crime," Rush said.
