Spokane7
65°
September 2, 2011 in City
Vestal: Strain at statistics in WSU rape reports
Washington State University is in “very serious” trouble with the feds.
The university failed to properly classify two reports of rape on campus in 2007, and the federal government is fining the school $82,500 – because the feds have a commitment to gathering “accurate and complete” information about campus crime and relaying it to parents and students so they will be able to make good decisions about their personal safety.
So, just to be clear: When WSU said in 2007 that only four forcible sexual assaults were reported, that was incorrect.
It should have been six.
That’s right. Six, not four, was the complete and accurate number of forcible sex offenses at WSU in 2007. And the government is going to really hammer WSU for getting that wrong, unless the school wins its appeal.
It’s reassuring, is it not, to know that among nearly 25,000 young men and women enrolled at WSU in 2007, a mere six rapes occurred? When the statistical averages for that year, according to federal crime fighters, would suggest something like 50 would be typical? And when, knowing all we know about the unreported nature of this crime, that a more realistic, off-the-record figure would be much higher still?
But, hey: four is completely unacceptable, and six is completely acceptable. Good work, Department of Education.
It would be hard to imagine a bigger pantomime. WSU’s offenses are not unimportant; in fact, they might be more serious than you can tell from the DOE’s fining letter. But this matter of accounting falls short of the “very serious” label the feds have slapped on the school, if only because there is virtually no gain in plausibility or usefulness between four and six.
In reading the Department of Education’s letter announcing the fines, it seems possible that WSU’s police department dropped the ball on one serious report – failing to follow up on a case where a woman said she suspected she’d been given sleeping pills by her husband and raped by a friend of his. An initial report did not include the rape allegation, and was classified as a domestic dispute; university police failed to reclassify it when the woman came forward with additional information later. WSU “contends” that police tried unsuccessfully to follow up with the victim, the DOE says.
But the feds aren’t punishing WSU for not running the case to the ground; they’re punishing WSU for failing to put one more check mark in the rape column after the fact, because institutions must “ensure the accuracy of the data.”
In the other case, a rape that was investigated was classified as “unfounded” by a records clerk – when such a determination needs to be made by someone higher on the food chain.
So, yeah, these were mistakes. WSU should have done a better job in both cases, and it should absolutely classify its crime reports properly. But there is something deeply dishonest in the pretense that either figure – four or six – is anything at all like an “accurate and complete” accounting.
The general thrust of the Clery Act is admirable – it forces colleges to tell the public about crimes that occur on campus, to provide annual statistics, maintain a public log, and take various other steps. But when it comes to sexual assault, these statistics are less than useless. In 2007, the year that WSU made its mistakes, the University of Idaho reported four forcible sex offenses. Eastern Washington University reported one. The UW reported just two in 2008, and not a single one in 2009.
In fact, to look at the Clery Act statistics, you’d think we’ve pretty much got this rape thing under control. According to the Center for Public Integrity, 77 percent of two- and four-year institutions reported not a single sex crime in 2007.
Not one.
All this, despite the fact that the national incidence of rape reports for women ages 20-24 was greater than 2 per 1,000 people in 2007, according to the federal Department of Justice.
A DOJ study in 2000 estimated that a college campus of 10,000 could plausibly have 350 forcible sex offenses in a year. A woman who attends college for five years, the study estimated, would have between a 20 percent and a 25 percent chance of a man at least trying to force her into sex. That’s an old study, but I think we might not have erased the problem just yet.
The study also estimated that just 5 percent of college rapes are reported – far fewer than the already low estimate for all populations of 40 percent.
Christine Wall, the director of Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse, agreed that the statistics about campus rape do not tell an accurate picture. But she’s not ready to dismiss the Clery Act, and the importance of enforcing it, altogether.
“I think it, by definition, forces colleges to be accountable in some way,” she said. “So maybe the value of the Clery Act is not the numbers it publishes, but in the insistence that universities need to do something about college-age rape.”
In the meantime, it’s important to keep in mind that WSU has “corrected” its figures for 2007. But don’t mistake that for thinking you can take them seriously.
Shawn Vestal can be reached at (509) 459-5431 or shawnv@spokesman.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vestal13.
The draw of the unknowable 
ManleyPointer on September 02 at 8:41 a.m.
Where would we be without federal “oversight”?
brianrbreen on September 02 at 8:45 a.m.
Good story Shawn. Kinda makes you wonder how the 15 rapes and 24 sex offenses reported to the Pullman Police Department in 2007 might correlate to the 4-6 WSU reported to the DOE in 2007.
If parents only knew.
gmorton on September 02 at 8:50 a.m.
How many rapes occur on the WSU campus is none of the feds’ business.
WSU should tell the feds where to stick their Clery Act and refuse to pay the baksheesh. If they threaten to deny loans or grants to WSU students, the school should file a 10th Amendment lawsuit.
brianrbreen on September 02 at 9:01 a.m.
@gmorton
I’m no fan of over reaching federal oversight by any means, but in this case it is important, and I wish the oversight went beyond just the numbers game.
gmorton on September 02 at 9:11 a.m.
brianrbreen wrote,
“I’m no fan of over reaching federal oversight by any means, but in this case it is important . . .”
Well, that is about as clear an example of “overreaching federal oversight” as you can find.
And how “important” it is not what matters, with respect to federal involvement. The relevant question is whether it is constitutional.
How safe a campus is may well be important to students and their parents. If parents are worried that their kids would be less safe on campus than on the street, at a shopping mall, or at a night club, they can always check the local crime stats. There is no justification whatsoever for intrusion by federal bureaucrats.
brianrbreen on September 02 at 9:38 a.m.
As my granddaughter often so profoundly articulates to me; “Whatever!”
shawnv on September 02 at 10:07 a.m.
gmorton — the feds can try to enforce a consistent standard, whereas relying on local police and colleges themselves produces an even faultier picture, allows for more self-interested, butt-covering impulses to control what gets released to the public. If you doubt this, you should try to call up a local police department in the college town of your choice, and request this information, and then try to get two or three other batches of comparable information, and see how long that takes and how useful it is.
this case is ridiculous. but i’m all for federal “intrusion”
brianrbreen on September 02 at 1:55 p.m.
@shawnv
@shawnv
As you so adeptly point out. One could also try being a cop investigating a rape case where the victim is a student and the suspect is a student athlete and the University tries to hide behind Federal FERPA laws (even though there is a law enforcement exception) out of concern as to what might come out in the press. The cop ends up with two choices, get the search warrant, or call the DOE. Calling the DOE is faster and saves a lot of time and money believe me. Damn Feds.!
gmorton on September 02 at 2:16 p.m.
shawnv wrote,
” … the feds can try to enforce a consistent standard, whereas relying on local police and colleges themselves produces an even faultier picture, allows for more self-interested, butt-covering impulses to control what gets released to the public.”
That’s why you have a state legislature and city council. Investigating crimes on campus is the responsibility of the local police or sheriff’s department, not the school.
brianrbreen wrote,
“One could also try being a cop investigating a rape case where the victim is a student and the suspect is a student athlete and the University tries to hide behind Federal FERPA laws (even though there is a law enforcement exception) out of concern as to what might come out in the press.”
The U doesn’t need to “hide behind” anything. Investigating crimes is not its job. Nor is keeping statistics on such crimes.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on September 02 at 2:20 p.m.
Being in denial there is a big problem, does not eliminate the problem. It is akin to racial and ethnic and other slurs and most likely is under reported.
Nothing will be done unless the particular case reaches a certain level of violence. Makes one wonder if the recent murder across the border in Idaho “made the list”?
Rape is a life changing experience, be it men raping women, or men raping men, or men raping children it alters a person’s ability to feel safe in their environs and creates PTSD.
While volunteering on the King County Crisis line i took a large number of “morning after calls” from women who found themselves in a state of disarray, in places they did not recognize, or even in their own dormitory or apartment.
They did not even remember the night before, and they had been the victim likely of sexual assault and rape through the use of drugged alcoholic beverages.
John
gmorton on September 02 at 2:25 p.m.
ChefGus/ John Olsen wrote,
“Rape is a life changing experience . . .[etc.].”
I think you missed the point, John.
brianrbreen on September 02 at 3:07 p.m.
@gmorton
Good point. let us totally eliminate any responsibility on the part of a University to protect their students and let the local cops handle it. That would save a bunch of problems, including the University trying to convince the victim to go through the University’s internal review process which if one were to take a look at the stats involving that process might demonstrate that the guy wins.
Vestal is right, but he only touches the tip of the iceberg.
@ChefGus
Yep, it is a life changing experience male or female and it is one of the hardest crimes to investigate, that is why I give a lot of respect to those who do.
brianrbreen on September 02 at 3:42 p.m.
@gmorton
BTW, there are absolutely no circumstances under which a rape report should be unfounded unless the alleged victim admits he/she filed a false report, and even then the recantation MUST be evaluated; or the evidence is so substantial that an unfounded finding can be justified beyond any doubt. To have a records clerk make an unfounded determination is like me telling Doug Clark he can’t sing….well maybe not.
ManleyPointer on September 02 at 3:59 p.m.
There are “absolutely no circumstances under which a rape report should be unfounded” unless the victim recants??? Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Or doesn’t that apply in rape cases???
brianrbreen on September 02 at 5:32 p.m.
@ManleyPointer
“innocent until proven guilty” is without a doubt one the most important things in a rape case. Investigators have to weigh all of the evidence in a case, including whether or not there is some motivation on the victims part, or a perception issue that might have a bearing on the case. What it may boil down to is a case of I said he/she said. In a lot of cases the perception issue has to be ferreted out by the investigator or perhaps the prosecutor, and in some cases a jury.
If you want to take Spokane as an example you might want to go back and look at how many of the cases attributed to Fredrick Harlan Coe were originally “unfounded”, and go from there. Then you make your assessment about un-founding a rape report. Not one of the cops investigating those cases wants to do it wrong it is one tough job even tougher then most murder cases and I know.
At the risk of loosing the kudos I got from tomnsahl with respect to my ability to show restraint….never mind.
gmorton on September 02 at 5:42 p.m.
brianbreen wrote,
“Good point. let us totally eliminate any responsibility on the part of a University to protect their students and let the local cops handle it.”
Yes. That is the job of the cops and the courts. The school’s job is to teach you calculus, organic chemistry, Elizabethan drama, and the like. It is not your personal bodyguard or substitute parent. Neither is the federal government.
brianrbreen on September 02 at 6:13 p.m.
I concede, you are right it’s not their job. It is someone other then the Feds. Help me out who is it?
BTW, I got to play “Puck” for some reason or another.
gmorton on September 02 at 8:15 p.m.
brianrbreen wrote,
“Help me out who is it?”
I answered that above. Responding to local crimes is the responsibility of local police. That is why police departments and state courts exist. Why would you imagine it to be the responsibility of the school?
brianrbreen on September 02 at 8:35 p.m.
You will love this one!
It’s fine by me as long as the corporation is taxed commensurate with the amount it takes to police it.
Holy crap Ekay I sound like a liberal!
brianrbreen on September 02 at 8:54 p.m.
I meant EGADS!!
misjustice on September 02 at 9:17 p.m.
@ ChefGus, I worked the local rape/crime victims’ crisis line. Many of the calls that I fielded were from women that had been raped but had never reported it. I referred them to local services to help them deal with the PTSD but most of all I listened, and I assured them that I believed them. Most did NOT want to report the assault, they did not want to go through all that a report entailed. And who could blame them????
Additionally, the largest percentage of the women that I worked with/assisted were college aged gals. Many did not report the assault to the police or to their campus but most did want to be seen by a doctor to be screened for STDs. My point is that far more women did not report the assault than did.
Rape is way under reported. And parents looking over those glossy pamphlets that colleges produce and reading the reported crime numbers need to remember that. Colleges try and promote their campuses as “safe”, they are marketing/selling a product. And it just wouldn’t do to have truth in advertising when it comes to the actual numbers in regards to sexual assault.
brianrbreen on September 02 at 9:23 p.m.
Wondered when you were going to come to my rescue.
misjustice on September 02 at 9:40 p.m.
BTW, all of the police, from 4 different jurisdictions, that I worked with were stellar; very kind and considerate with the victims, and with me, and seemingly intent on getting the bad guys/gals…(yup, a few times the perps were gals)
misjustice on September 02 at 9:41 p.m.
@ brian, I wasn’t aware that you needed rescuing????
; )
brianrbreen on September 02 at 9:45 p.m.
Okay I’ll take care of your light work, you handle the heavy stuff! ;)
ChefGus/ John Olsen on September 03 at 2:41 a.m.
MisJ… your comments and experience mirrors my clinical perceptions.. my guess /estimate is that 70 % of women and 40% of men have been harassed or abused or will be by the time they are 40 years old. The Lutheran Social Services service in Spokane is a fine one, their training alone, even if you choose not to become a volunteer is worth taking. The YWCA is another wonderful local service for women and children in distress. John
drywitt99 on September 03 at 3:09 a.m.
Does anyone share my perception that gmorton’s views on this topic are perhaps the most irrational ever to appear on these pages??
His anti-government views have reached a frightening point.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on September 03 at 3:53 a.m.
I pretty much just post what is true in my own personal experience in this area… and challenge anyone with comparable experience to offer insights they may have. Thanks Mis J for your volunteer service in this critical area of women’s rights/issues. john
misjustice on September 03 at 6:03 a.m.
Thanks to you Chef, for sharing your experiences and for continuing to work in the trenches!
; )
brianrbreen on September 03 at 8:55 a.m.
@John and @MisJ
My experience is the vast majority of sexual assaults go unreported to the authorities, but that doesn’t take away the life long trauma the victim suffers. That trauma extends beyond the victim to his/her wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, and family. It takes a special person to subject themselves to re-victimization by the criminal justice system. Many of those that do are motivated by a desire not to have the same thing happen to someone else.
Sexual Assault is one of the most misunderstood crimes there is. So when I see someone commenting about something they know nothing about I can at least take solace in the fact that obviously they or their loved ones haven’t been victimized.
gmorton on September 03 at 1:02 p.m.
ChefGus/ John Olsen wrote,
“The Lutheran Social Services service in Spokane is a fine one, their training alone, even if you choose not to become a volunteer is worth taking. The YWCA is another wonderful local service for women and children in distress.”
Yes, along with the local cops. That problem is not within the purview of universities or the federal government.