Rape Happens at Harvard

Earlier this week, University Health Services (UHS) released the results of a survey on sexual assault on campus. Although the survey results released so far show much lower incidence of rape than a 1988 national survey of rape on college campuses, we should wait to laud Harvard until the most recent national figures, gathered by the American College Health Association, are available in two weeks. The survey should also remind us that the number of rapes reported to the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) could be far smaller than the number of rapes that occur at Harvard--while only 11 sexual assaults were reported to HUPD last year, one percent of the students surveyed said they had been sexually assaulted during that time. Under-reporting of rape is one of the most formidable challenges to reducing it. Given these facts, the College should strive to extend resources to rape survivors and provide a safer environment for the reporting of rape.

The fact that UHS chose to release the survey statistics--albeit in their preliminary form--to peer educator groups before the rest of the student body cast an unfortunate shadow over the results. While it is understandable that the statistics could be useful for these groups' work on campus, there is no reason to provide neutral statistics to some students before others. The fact that Peer Relations and Date Rape Relations (PRDRE) was asked not to use the statistics in its presentations to students before their official release eliminates any advantage gained in providing them to the group in advance. In the future, UHS should remember that such important information should be available to all students at the earliest possible time.

We are pleased that UHS has provided these statistics, however preliminary they may be, because such information is the first step toward addressing rape on campus. We hope that however encouraging the statistics may be compared to national trends, the College does not become complacent about sexual assault. First and foremost, we urge the College to work with students to create an atmosphere in which rape survivors feel comfortable enough to report rapes and identify their attackers. The first step to reducing rape on campus is talking about it.