November 7th, 2014 by WCBC Radio
Reports of forcible sex offenses at the flagship public universities of Maryland and Virginia doubled last year, an increase that school officials and victim advocates attribute to growing awareness rather than more dangerous campus environments. The Washington Post reports the data shows that there were 19 reports at the University of Maryland in 2013, up nine from the year before. At the University of Virginia, there were 27 reports in 2013, compared to 11 the year before, according to campus crime data collected annually under the federal Clery Act. Forcible sex offenses include rape, sodomy, fondling and sexual assault with an object. School officials say colleges with rising sex-offense reports shouldn't be perceived as being more dangerous than before. That's because they say the numbers mean that more students are stepping forward to get help. Schools also are documenting the problem more thoroughly than ever, educating students about preventing sexual assault and developing procedures to handle complaints
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