Hood officials cite increased awareness of sexual assault as reason for increase in reported rapes

By Zoe Finholm//

Hood College officials say the three rapes reported last year in the Annual Security and Fire Safety report are probably due to greater awareness of sexual assault.

“I attribute this to the new and more frequent conversations that have occurred on campus, especially from 2019 and beyond,” said Nina Carr, project coordinator for Campus Awareness, Response and Education. 

Due to privacy reasons, no details of the incidents can be reported. Director and Chief of Campus Safety Thurmond Maynard said, “resources were provided on and off campus for both respondents and complainants.”

Maynard also said the three incidents are only the ones reported to campus safety and the actual number is likely higher than reported. Some of the incidents on campus could have been reported to Frederick Police or Frederick Health. Some sexual assault victims don’t report incidents as many feel ashamed or guilty, and some incidents occur between acquaintances.

Carr works with organizations at Hood and in Frederick to prevent sexual assault and start conversations that would otherwise stay too uncomfortable to talk about. “There has been a boost in conversations around these topics on campus including a greater awareness of how consent is defined and what resources are available for individuals who have experienced sexual violence,” Carr said. 

It is a group effort to stop sexual violence and create a safe space for victims to talk about their experiences, she said.

“I encourage everyone to ask themselves how they can do more with their influence to prevent sexual violence and to ensure survivors are supported on campus, and I invite each person to get involved with the efforts underway on campus,” Carr said.