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Crimes cannot be kept secret in U.S. colleges because federal law mandates colleges make this information available to the public, but recently a study found this is not always done.

Last week, the Education Development Center, in partnership with the University of Cincinatti, released the results of a two-year study finding many higher education institutions to be in violation of the Clery Act, a federal law that mandates that colleges and universities must publicize crime statistics and information on security policies.

Since the EDC/University of Cincinnati survey was designed to keep school names anonymous, it is unknown whether UCLA was one of the schools studied or how it fared if it was studied. But UCLA officials are confident crimes are being reported correctly.

The UCPD has posted crime data for the last three years on its Web site under a link titled ‘Clery Report.’ According to UCPD spokesperson Nancy Greenstein, these numbers reflect all alleged crimes that occurred on campus, on other UCLA properties and in Westwood.

Michael Foraker, director of Housing Services, who works closely with UCPD regarding crimes in on-campus housing areas, said he had no concerns about the campus underreporting crime because “it’s mandated by federal law and ... the campus takes it very seriously.”

EDC spokeswoman Diane Berry said about the Campus Sexual Assault Report, one part of the EDC study, “We collected aggregate data with the purpose (of giving) the government a first picture of school compliance (with the Clery Act) or lack there of.”

The national report indicated 37 percent of American colleges are deficient in their resources for dealing with sexual crimes. But UCLA officials are confident the school is not only meeting federal law, but campus needs as well.

The Clothesline Project is a campus group assisting in the goal of preventing rape and sexual assault on campus. Sponsored by the Social Welfare Department, the organization’s mission is to build awareness of sexual violence. One of their main events is the Clothesline Project Display, in which survivors of violent crimes hang up T-shirts that express their pain. The purpose of this shirt display is to both aid survivors in the healing process and to raise awareness.

Additionally, the UCLA Center for Women and Men offers counseling and referrals for survivors of sexual violence.

Tina Oakland, director of the center said, “No one should have to go through the aftermath of a sexual assault alone.”

In the case of a sex offense, the university standard procedure is for the UCPD to transport the person to the Santa Monica UCLA Hospital.

“Our first question is how do we get resources to the student or staff member,” Greenstein said.

Though both UCPD and the Center for Women and Men cannot force survivors to receive counseling or press legal charges against their offender, they encourage them to do so. In addition to a UCPD investigation, if the alleged crime occurred on campus or at any university-sponsored event, the student has the option of filing a complaint at the Dean of Students office.

Under the Student Conduct Code, in the case of an alleged rape or sexual assault, both parties would be called to the Dean of Students office. Information would be taken from both the accused and accuser, which can result in conflicting accounts.

“If there are no witnesses (the case) will be referred to the student conduct committee,” said Bob Naples, assistant vice chancellor of student and campus life.

Even if a suspect is found not guilty by a court of law, the student conduct committee may find the person guilty of sexual misconduct because they have a lower burden of proof – requiring a preponderance of evidence, not a lack of reasonable doubt.

Naples believes that UCLA is doing a satisfactory job responding to rape and sexual assault.