According to records from the U.S. Department of Education, Florida State University is experiencing high numbers of on-campus rape.
The Tallahassee-based school is one of three schools in the state’s capital with high rates.
The most recent data shows that in 2009 there were 10 instances of “forcible” sex offenses on the school’s campus, up from 2008, when there were six instances. The year before, FSU reported 11 instances.
Compared to University of Florida, those numbers are high. In 2009, UF reported three cases of forcible sex offenses. In 2007 and 2008, the school reported three in total. The University of Florida has almost 51,000 students enrolled students, whereas FSU reports a little less than 40,000 enrolled students.
According to ABC News, the rate at FSU is also “twice the number reported at each of the two campuses with the next highest rape counts: FSU’s neighbor in the state capital, Florida A&M University, and Rolllins College in Winter Park.”
ABC News reports:
The federal crime statistics represent alleged offenses reported to campus security, local law enforcement or both. Over the years, some institutions have proven to be better — or perhaps, more honest — about reporting campus crime than others.
FSU police have been trying to do something about the assaults against women on their campus. Since 1996, police have offered self-defense classes to any interested female student, faculty, staff or community member. The classes, part of a program known as “rape aggression defense,” have been taught to more than 1,500 women. Police say the classes have only gotten more popular with each semester.
The complete database from the Department of Education can be found here.
