The University experienced a dramatic decline in reported cases of sexual assault in 2003, but Duke University Police Department officials cautioned that the drop in reports does not necessarily correlate with a decrease in actual incidents.
According to the Clery Report, DUPD's annual campus safety assessment, forcible sexual offenses on campus had increased from six in 2000 to eight in 2001 and 10 in 2002, but this year just one incident was reported. The Duke University Medical Center and Duke University Hospital reported two cases in 2000 and none in 2001 or 2002.
Although all cases reported to the police are included in the yearly statistics, the numbers most likely do not reflect all incidences of sexual assault, Chief Clarence Birkhead noted.
Lt. Davis Trimmer said he was pleasantly surprised to discover that there had only been one reported case, but he said that support groups on campus would likely have received more reports of sexual assault than the numbers suggested.
"I think that [the number of reported cases] would be higher at the Women's Center," Trimmer said. "Many, many assaults that occur on campus do not get reported to the police."
Jean Leonard, coordinator of sexual assault support services at the Women's Center, wrote in an e-mail that the number of sexual offenses reported to the police could be independent of the overall rate of incidence.
"In general sexual assault is a highly under-reported crime," Leonard wrote. "The national statistic is that approximately one-tenth [of] sexual assaults are reported to official channels. Large scale anonymous surveys also reveal that about 50 percent of survivors never tell anyone, not even a family member or friend."
For those who do decide to seek help, Leonard said Duke is well equipped to assist victims of sexual assault. She noted the Sexual Assault Support Services and Healthy Devil's team of more than 90 Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention peer educators.
"While Duke is far from perfect in responding to assault cases, we generally have a far more comprehensive approach and set of resources than other universities," Leonard wrote.
She added that awareness on campus has increased and involvement has risen in the two years she has worked at the Women's Center.
Trimmer hoped that increased awareness thanks to Duke police and student efforts had contributed to the decline in reported cases. He thought the University was safer than in past years in terms of sexual offense, but he held reservations about expressing that sentiment publicly.
"I would hate to come out and say that our campus is safe or isn't safe and make sweeping generalizations... especially considering the armed robberies on campus lately," he said.
Leonard said the nature of sexual offense make it difficult to measure a level of safety.
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