SLIPPERY ROCK — Although crime on Slippery Rock University’s campus decreased about 20 percent from 2011 to 2012, the number of forcible sex offenses increased from two in 2011 to four in 2012, with three of them taking place in residence halls.

Although that still is a low number, a new report issued by the White House stated that 1 in 5 women in the U.S. have been sexually assaulted at college, but only 12 percent of student victims report it.

SRU does have programs to educate students about sexual violence.

Jodi Solito, director of SRU’s women’s center, said SRU is required by state and federal law to provide sexual violence education to incoming students.

“We kind of do it a couple different ways,” Solito said.

The center sends a link to an online program before students get to campus. It then follows up by going into classes to discuss the issue and also holds campus programs dealing with it.

She also said employees at the student health center are trained in how to respond to a victim of sexual assault.

Solito did note many victims do not report violations.

“I do think it continues to be a problem, not just here, but everywhere,” Solito said.

She said, due to the nature of the crime, “victim blaming” can be an issue, or the assault may have been perpetrated by a friend or acquaintance. These can cause victims to not report assaults.

Additionally, Solito said if a victim does come forward, going through the criminal justice system can be very difficult and stressful.

“That’s a really difficult barrier,” Solito said.

Still, she said reporting instances of sexual assault is the way to go for victims.

“That’s the best way to get through it,” Solito said.

She said schools are required by the federal Title IX to make accommodations for a victim if they are in the same class as the perpetrator. SRU also can make different residence hall accommodations for victims, if necessary.

Buddy Clements, president of SRU’s student government association, noted the low prevalence of crime on campus.

“We don’t have too much of a crime issue,” Clements said.

Although sexual assaults going unreported is a big issue everywhere, Clements said SRU does a good job of encouraging victims to report such crimes, and the women’s center and the student health center have a lot of programs available.

Last month, President Barack Obama signed a memorandum creating a task force to protect students from sexual assault.

The White House report said nearly 22 million women in the U.S. and 1.6 million men have been raped during their lifetimes, and victims are more likely to suffer from depression, substance abuse, chronic pain and diabetes.

The report also cited a study that said 7 percent of college men admitted to attempting rape, and 63 percent of those men admitted to multiple attempts.