<p>I question the validity of a “ranking” system when it comes to this topic. The definition of rape and sexual assault differ from state to state and, more importantly, colleges aren’t the same when reporting crimes. In addition to the dynamics between large universities vs small LACs, there is also probably great variation between LACs as well. This Spring, students at Occidental, Swat, and Amherst filed federal complaints with the Department of Education because survivors on their campuses felt they were discouraged from reporting incidents of rape and sexual misconduct and felt they had no other alternative with their administrations. I don’t know where HC is on this spectrum. Rather than discussing “rank”, I think the conversation should be what the college is doing to prevent sexual assaults/rapes and what the college does afterwards to best help the survivor. Ranks may unintentionally punish those colleges with the greatest transparency…</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/19/education/swarthmore-and-occidental-colleges-are-accused-of-mishandling-sexual-assault-cases.html?_r=0[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/19/education/swarthmore-and-occidental-colleges-are-accused-of-mishandling-sexual-assault-cases.html?_r=0</a></p>
<p>[Crime</a> | A Student’s Guide to Policies and Resources at Haverford College](<a href=“http://blogs.haverford.edu/students-guide/crime/]Crime”>http://blogs.haverford.edu/students-guide/crime/)</p>
<p>[Sexual</a> Misconduct (including sexual assault) | A Student’s Guide to Policies and Resources at Haverford College](<a href=“http://blogs.haverford.edu/students-guide/sexual-misconduct-including-sexual-assault/]Sexual”>http://blogs.haverford.edu/students-guide/sexual-misconduct-including-sexual-assault/)
<a href=“http://www.change.org/petitions/interim-president-haverford-college-reform-rape-and-sexual-assault-policy-at-Haverford[/url]”>http://www.change.org/petitions/interim-president-haverford-college-reform-rape-and-sexual-assault-policy-at-Haverford</a></p>
<p>Finally, I don’t see a big “contradiction” with the Honor Code. To me, the Honor Code is simply the ideal that the college challenges its students to reach and no one familiar with the college that I know has the expectation that it prevents bad stuff from happening on campus, even by fellow students. There is an opportunity though for integrity to be demonstrated by how the administration, staff and students react to the problems they face and how individuals can take responsibility for their acts afterwards. In this regard, HC hasn’t disappointed this alum (yet).</p>