Rutgers' Reported Rapes Are Eighth Most In U.S., New Data Shows

Rutgers University had the eighth highest number of rape reports among U.S. colleges, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Education, while several other schools in the state are within the top 25 percent.

Nearly 100 colleges and universities had at least 10 reports of rape on their main campuses in 2014, according to U.S. Department of Education federal data. Rutgers University was tied for seventh highest on the list, with 32.

The recently released data comes after a recall effort was announced against a California judge in a sexual assault case at Stanford University where a defendant's mere six-month jail term has drawn outrage.

Also, Baylor University’s chancellor resigned last week after controversy arose over his handling of sexual assault complaints against football players.

The data may underscore a trend of students who may have experienced a sexual assault, and now they're stepping forward to tell authorities about incidents that may have gone unreported before.

It also could indicate what others have feared: A growing trend of violence on college campuses and at high schools. The FBI's most recent Uniform Crime report notes the number of students who have been threatened or injured with a weapon has increased sharply since 1993. 

And another possibility could be an increased willingness for victims to come forward immediately following an attack.

E.J. Miranda, a spokesman for Rutgers University, released this statement from the school:

"An examination of the Clery data will show that the number of reported incidents relative to the population of Rutgers University-New Brunswick is significantly lower than the other ranked institutions.
"Rutgers was appointed by the White House to develop a model for colleges to assess and combat sexual assault. For more than two decades, Rutgers University has been recognized as a national leader in sexual assault prevention and victim assistance. We strongly encourage victims to report crimes and to use the resources provided by the university.
"Reporting a sexual assault can be difficult and may seem overwhelming, but the university urges anyone who believes he or she was a victim of a crime to report the incident to the Rutgers University Police Department. Victims also are encouraged to contact the Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance (VPVA) and the Rutgers University-New Brunswick Title IX Coordinator for students to receive support services and information about disciplinary action."

Here are the New Jersey colleges, their number of reported rapes and where they were ranked on the list:

• Rutgers University-New Brunswick 32 (7th-tie)
• Rowan University 7 (153rd-tie)
• Ramapo College of New Jersey 6 (193rd-tie)
• Stockton University 6 (193rd-tie)
• William Paterson University of New Jersey 6 (193-tie_
• Princeton University 4 (299-tie)

Here are the 20 schools with the most reported rape cases:

1. Brown University 43
2. University of Connecticut 43
3. Dartmouth College 42
4. Wesleyan University 37
5. University of Virginia 35
6. Harvard University 33
7. University of North Carolina at Charlotte 32
8. Rutgers University-New Brunswick 32
9. University of Vermont 27
10. Stanford University 26
11. Emory University 25
12. George Washington University 23
13. Boston College 22
14. University of Pittsburgh 20
15. Ohio State University 20
16. Williams College 19
17. University of New Hampshire 19
18. Ohio University 19
19. Reed College 18
20. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 18

You can find the whole list at the Washington Post website, which first published the data.

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