American University's 2002 Annual Security Report shows five reported forcible sexual offenses last year. That's up from the four sexual assaults reported in 2000, and the one reported sex crime in 1999.

But these statistics do little to paint a complete picture of rape at AU, because less than 10 percent of rapes are ever reported to the police, according to the D.C. Rape Crisis Center.

If that statistic is taken at face value, this could mean that as many as 50 people were sexually assaulted on campus last year.

Nationally, one in four college women is sexually assaulted by the time she graduates college and one in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime.

The D.C. Rape Crisis Center confirms this assertion. According to information gathered by the center, more than 70 percent of rapes happen between people who know each other.

Approximately 4.8 million intimate partner rapes and physical assaults are perpetrated against U.S. women annually. Women who were physically assaulted by an intimate partner average 6.9 physical assaults by the same partner, according to the study.

Gary Dean Folckemer, American University's Community Policing Coordinator, pointed out that the Annual Report does not distinguish between stranger rape and date rape.

But "there has not been a reported case of forcible stranger rape in the past four years I've been here," he said. And Faith Leonard, Dean of Students, said she was unaware of any such cases over the past 20 years.

"What is more common is date rape," Folckemer said, "and alcohol consumption and prior relationships are often involved."

The fact that so many sexual assaults are acquaintance rapes presents many problems for women.

"The reality is, when boundaries are pushed, most of the time people will not object," said Kris Gooding, a licensed social worker and AU professor. "Women especially, are taught to not react negatively in order to protect the feelings of the very people that are abusing them. This socialized need to keep the peace can be destructive."

Date Rape Drugs and Alcohol

And besides risking confrontation by resisting sex, some women risk being drugged by the people with whom they attend a party since the popularity of "date rape drugs" such as GHB (gamma-hydroxybutrate) and Rohypnol (or "roofies") has risen.

However, these drugs are "not a big reported problem" on campus, Folckemer said.

Public Safety can test for these drugs, but in order to do so, they would need to test a potentially contaminated food or drink. Usually, those samples are not available by the time the victim realizes she may have been drugged.

Anyone who suspects that they or someone else has ingested GHB or Rohypnol should obtain medical assistance immediately, because both drugs are potentially fatal. Medical staff should be informed of your suspicions so they can specifically test for those drugs.

Though these drugs are a widespread problem, alcohol is a much more common factor in date rape. "It is the number one date rape drug," said Kathy Haldeman, health educator for American University. "That's it. You don't have to get your hands on Rohypnol. Alcohol is much easier to get." Haldeman added that the combination of alcohol and sexual assault is a common one, especially among college-aged people.

Preventing Rape through Education and Self-Defense

Experts warn women always to be vigilant. "Rape can happen anywhere," Gooding said. "Potential assaulters just need to have access to you, and your personal space." Gooding recommends listening to your instincts and asserting your personal boundaries in uncertain circumstances.

"If a situation seems uncomfortable, it may be because your survival instincts are giving you signals that you are not consciously aware of," Gooding continued.

Community educators stress self-defense when teaching women to keep themselves safe. When it comes to defending yourself against an attacker, anything from screaming "No!" to a spontaneously snapped palm strike to the nose of an attacker can prevent a sexual assault and even save your life.

The measures may not seem significant, but the likelihood of rape is decreased if a woman takes action to defend herself, according to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

"I don't know if rape will ever stop in my lifetime," said D.C. Rape Crisis Center co-founder Marty Langelan. "But we as women can sure make it harder for a guy to hurt us. As long as we educate ourselves about rape prevention, they'll really need to work at it."

Women have an 80 percent success rate if they fight back, according to Langelan. "Women need to be taught that they are worth fighting for," says Langelan. "Sexual assault is about humiliation, control and violence. An attacker can be any age, so can the individual being targeted."

In fact, dispelling misconceptions is an important part of rape prevention education. Contrary to popular belief, 80 percent of rapes are planned. Most rapists who are caught confess to having an active sex life, showing that rape is not about an uncontrolled urge, but about the rapists asserting themselves as superior and in control.

The D.C. Rape Crisis Center was one of the first sexual assault prevention/education centers in the nation, started in 1975 by Langelan and a small group of women tired of living in fear of rape. Their motivation was a need to stop rape and educate women and men about rape in all forms and the effect it has on the lives of all.

The campus outreach program is pivotal in the efforts to stop sexual assaults. Not only are rape prevention methods taught, but students also learn how to deal with rape that has already happened.

Straight from a freshman seminar at George Washington University, Pat McGan, the director of outreach at Men Can Stop Rape, recapped the most difficult part of the seminar, the Continuum of Harm. It is a point in the seminar when the truth comes out and the men in the audience air their options on rape and how they see women and men who are sexually victimized. The results can be very mixed.

"More guys than not are disturbed by the things they see done to women at parties and at bars," McGan said. "But if they are the only ones speaking out, they become awkward and question if rape is really a man's issue."

Dealing with Rape After the Fact

Experts emphasize the importance that sexual assault survivors seek help and support directly after an incident. Date rape cases, in particular, can be especially traumatic for victims, said Counseling Center psychologist Wanda Collins. She added that it's important to get support in these situations.

"What's really difficult about that situation is that it's easier for a woman to question herself," she said. "A good place to start the healing process is to share your experiences with someone like a counselor who could help you sort out your feelings surrounding [the rape]."

Collins continued that some sexual assault victims hesitate to tell their friends and family because of feelings of guilt, anger and shame. She added that sometimes people do not believe sexual assault victims, not because what the victims are saying is unbelievable, but because they cannot "tolerate all the feelings that would come with that." In those cases, rape survivors should find other people to support them so they feel heard and validated.

Rape survivors may also experience some long-term psychological problems that counseling can help resolve. Sometimes, a new relationship or the anniversary of the rape can trigger psychological aftereffects. These may include feeling scared, guilty, being more withdrawn and less trusting, Collins said. Common physical problems experienced by rape survivors are feelings of numbness, difficulty sleeping and changes in appetite.

An AU student who is sexually assaulted can do three things, Folckemer said. "If a person chooses not to report it, that is their prerogative, although we encourage anyone who is victimized by a crime to report it to us," he said.

To preserve evidence, regardless of whether a victim is planning on prosecuting, she should avoid taking a shower, and put the clothes she was wearing at the time in a plastic bag. If she hands this bag over to the police, the evidence will be available if she decides, even a few weeks later, to press charges.

Once a student reports a sexual assault, Public Safety calls the Metropolitan Sex Crimes Unit and an ambulance to ensure the student's safety. Calling the police does not automatically mean charges will be pressed--no one can be forced to file criminal charges against her will. Public Safety also provides the student with the D.C. Rape Crisis Center's number, which will send a counselor for the victim.

Victims are also strongly encouraged to seek counseling through AU's Counseling Center.

A rape victim can press charges through the Washington Metropolitan Police. If the sex offender is an AU student, the victim can report the crime to Judicial Affairs, which will review the allegations in a conduct council and impose sanctions on the offender according to its judgment.

The Conduct Council requires "clear and convincing proof" to impose sanctions, Folckemer said. That is less than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard of proof demanded by a criminal court, but more than the proof by a "preponderance of evidence" required to win a civil case.

"Conduct Council is educative rather than punitive," Folckemer said. "Sanctions that are imposed are meant to be corrective and to hold students accountable, rather than to punish them."

Sanctions against sexual offenders in the past have ranged from a reflection paper to suspension or dismissal from the university, depending on the seriousness of the offense, Folckemer said. Other possible sanctions include removal from university housing, fines, required community service, and classes and workshops. Statistics on the types of sanctions most commonly imposed were not available.

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