Editor’s note: This concludes a three-part series on women’s safety.

As of 2006, the total number of reported rapes and sexual assaults has fallen 69 percent since 1993, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network website.

This fact has led a number of rape counselors, sexual assault volunteers, medical doctors and victim advocates to question whether the total number of sexual assault and rape cases has actually dropped, or if fewer victims are reporting their attacks.

Jessica Heskin, a victim advocate for the Sacramento State Women’s Resource Center, said the center sees approximately 50 students per semester.

According to Sac State’s 2006 Jeanne Clery Report, which is named in memory of a Lehigh University freshman who was raped and murdered while asleep in her dorm room in 1986 and requires colleges and universities to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses, University Police handled 14 forcible sexual offenses in 2003, one in 2004 and six in 2005.

That leaves an average of-93 cases unaccounted for each year without considering the number of students who don’t report cases to University Police or the WRC.

This is a shocking statistic for Heskin, who said that Sac State has amazing recovery services and programs.

“I think our services are excellent,” Heskin said. “The (WRC), along with on- and off- campus law enforcement agencies and the Student Health Center, have very comprehensive services (including) victim advocacy, counseling and health services.”

Sophomore interior design major Jan Robinson said that while she has not personally used the WRC’s resources, a close friend of hers, who wished not to comment, has.

“A friend of mine went to the (WRC) last semester for personal reasons relating to (the opposite sex),” Robinson said. “From what she has told me, everyone at the center is extremely nice and welcoming. She was initially embarrassed and a bit scared, but said that she never once felt judged or pressured by the people there.”

Heskin said that she has personally helped students file restraining orders, apply for formal academic intervention and request police accompaniment.

“Less than five students a semester need academic intervention,” Heskin said. “(The center does) about six to eight police accompaniments per semester, and I do approximately four restraining orders for domestic violence a semester.”

Sgt. Kelly Clark of University Police Department said that as difficult as it may seem, students need to report any and all cases of sexual assault, rape, stalking and violence.

“Please report the incident to the police department,” Clark said. “We have specially trained investigators to assist you. (We also have) a multitude of resources, including professional counselors. Your well-being is our highest priority.”

Clark said that not reporting an incident can also result in other students being placed in similarly difficult and unsafe situations with the same or different perpetrators.

Likewise, Heskin said that students will meet with her to discuss a number of issues, most of which are related to instances of sexual assault.

“(The victim) will meet with me, and I inform him or her of their rights and options,” Heskin said “We discuss what he or she wants to do in terms of reporting the assault to law enforcement or student affairs. If the perpetrator is a student, and then if-he or she decides to do any of that, I accompany him or her to the police station or the medical exam. If they decide not to do that, I can arrange for counseling, academic intervention, restraining orders, and any other services, they may need or want, either on or off campus.”

Heskin said her main point is that the victim gets to decide what she wants to do and that neither Heskin nor any of her fellow staff member can or will force the student to do anything. She said that while the WRC does work with University Police, the center is not required to report most cases to them and will not do so without the victim’s permission.

“I have client confidentiality with the victim, so I can’t tell anyone anything that she discusses with me without his or her-permission,” Heskin said. “There are, of course, a few exceptions to this, but I discuss that with them up front.-(The WRC) is a safe environment where people can discuss their concerns and problems with us, and then we can come up with a solution together.”

Heskin said that cases where the WRC staff is required to report its findings and information to law enforcement include abuse of a child or elderly person, if the reporter or victim is a threat to himself or herself, if the perpetrator is believed to be a threat to the campus community at large.

She said that students should not be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help, because that is what she and the center are there for.

Students wishing to obtain victim’s services, receive additional information, report a crime or volunteer are asked to contact the WRC at 916-278-7388 or the University Police Emergency Operations Center at 916-278-6851.

Ashley Evans can be reached at [email protected]