Nearly two-thirds of last year’s reported rapes in Story County came from college students, but officials say the numbers represent only a tiny percentage of the actual crimes.

Julie Harders, coordinator of Story County Sexual Assault Response Team, said there were 62 reported sexual assaults in Story County in 2000 and 32 so far this year. Two-thirds of the reports came from college students between the ages of 18 and 24.

Crime statistics from the U.S. Department of Education show that Iowa State received six reports of forcible sex offenses in 2000.

Although the numbers show a slight increase, Department of Public Safety Interim Director Jerry Stewart said the percentage of reported rapes still is incredibly low.

“Experience has taught us that sexual assault is the most underreported crime to law enforcement officials,” he said.

At least 90 percent of sexual assault victims do not report the crime, Stewart said.

Harders said the reason the crime is underreported is “not that the university knows about sex crimes, but victims aren’t coming forward to tell.”

She said there are several things that can “work against a victim coming forward.”

One of the factors is that, in most sexual assault cases, the victim knows the assailant, she said.

“Part of the nature of sexual assault is that it’s much more personal than any other crime,” Harders said.

“It’s OK to say `Someone broke into my car,’ but no one wants to come in and say `I went out on a date last night and he forced me to have sex.'”

Another reason victims may be hesitant to report rape is because they fear the response from the community, she said.

“We have victims out there who are afraid to come forward because they’re afraid they won’t be believed,” Harders said. “I hope that society does reach a point to recognize [sexual assault] for the crime that it is.”

Stewart said a lot of victims also have “a certain feeling of guilt” and feel somehow at fault.

“Victims of sexual assault should not feel guilty,” he said. “We encourage reporting so those affected can receive information and assistance.”

Harders said she hopes reports of sexual assaults will increase as victims realize there is help available through community programs such as SART.

“If more communities had this in place, I think the number of reports would continue to increase,” she said.

“We’d also get a picture of the real number of victims, and ultimately, we could work to stop it from happening.”