A study by the U.S. Justice Department reports that about 3 percent of college women experienced a completed and/or attempted rape during the current college year. That accounts for about one out of four or five women on campuses. The report, The Sexual Victimization of College Women, offers a comprehensive look into the prevalence and nature of sexual assault occurring at American colleges. The data show that about 1.7 percent of female college students were victims of a completed rape, and about 1.1 percent of the victims were attempted rape. However, about 95 percent of these rapes go unreported, especially when the victim knows the rapist. The reasons for keeping quiet include guilt, embarrassment, trauma, fear of reprisals and/or not being believed because of alcohol use or knowing the assailant. Some women even think that it is not serious enough a crime to report. In addition, universities are not doing all they can to address the problem. Only about a third of schools report crime data in a way that fully complies with federal laws. Also, only one in four provide safety training to residence hall staff, hire security staff for dorms, or require overnight guests to register, federal researchers found.
             Alice Sebold, who reported her college rape in Lucky, was one of these women in the statistics noted above. While a virgin 18-year-old college freshman in 1999, she was raped on campus. Unlike most of the women who are raped on campus, she did not know her assailant. Also, unlike most women, she reported her rape and then relived the ordeal through a trial. She was not able to deal totally with the trauma and handle the memories for over a decade. Despite this, Sebold's main message is for victims to speak up and talk about their rape and for others to objectively listen and believe that the event happened as told.
             In her book, Sebold held nothing back. She told it all, from the horrible act itself to her dealing with ...