It is the kind of thing people say never happens. But lately, it has been happening here in State College much too often.

Three sexual assaults and one attempted sexual assault have occurred since early April. And these are just the ones reported.

Three men on South Garner Street raped a 19-year-old student in the early morning hours of April 13. Later in April, another woman was assaulted. A man confronted the 21-year-old woman as she was walking to her apartment in the Park Crest Terrace Apartments. He dragged her to the complex's children's playground and attempted to remove her clothes.

In the most recent incident last week, a woman was held at knife-point and sexually assaulted after two men forced their way into her car and made her drive to a remote area near Fraternity Row.

These are violent, power-driven crimes on women in State College and they need to be stopped.

While it is understandable that the State College Police Department is working on these cases and sifting through what little information they have, it would be wise to be more forthcoming with any information that could help women feel safer.

There are many resources available for women to prevent an assault or for those who have been sexually assaulted. There is the Escort Service at 865-WALK, in which a person will meet you and walk with you home. Or, instead of walking, take a taxi. University Health Services also has resources and counselors for women who have been assaulted.

While there are enough resources available for women to fill up this page, the best resource is to make men and women aware that sexual assault and rape are serious problems and crimes. Ignorance will not help this situation.

It is essential that local law enforcement work to deter these crimes as quickly as possible and catch these criminals. But you can help law enforcement by not walking home alone and locking car and apartment doors.

If anyone has witnessed any of these crimes, please contact the State College Police Department at 234-7150.

Women should feel comfortable driving in their cars; it's unfortunate they can't be.