Penn State Police Services offers programs about campus safety, self-defense, sexual assault prevention and alcohol and drug awareness to the college and the community.

Since the assaults, however, Police Services has seen an increase in requests for such programs, including the Rape Aggression Defense program, which provides 12 hours of self-defense instruction for women.

Susan Del Ponte, program assistant for the Center for Women Students, said the center has received increased requests from residence hall governments to bring in sexual assault awareness programs.

"I think it's great they are offering self-defense classes right in our dorms," said Melissa Swallow (freshman-advertising/public relations). "Everyone needs to know how to defend themselves in any situation, especially now."

Del Ponte said that there has been an increased demand for information about the dangers of acquaintance rapes.

"All rape is horrible, but because the assaults on campus have been committed by strangers, we are becoming desensitized to the fact that acquaintance rape happens almost every day," she said.

Last year's annual security report, issued by the Penn State Police, recorded 91 sexual assaults reported on or around campus, 67 percent of which were committed by someone the victim knew.

"It's everyone's problem," said Josh Ferris (freshman-division of undergraduate studies). "I always tell my friends they can call me if they need me. We're in an environment where everyone wants to have fun, but a lot of times don't realize that drugs and alcohol impair your judgment."

The Penn State Escort Service, a service that provides a walking partner to those people who do not want to walk home by alone, also reported a growth in student usage since the sexual assaults.

"Now we average about seven calls a night, and that's up from the one call a night we would receive before the sexual assaults were reported," said Pamela Gerber, Escort Service supervisor.

At the busiest of times, the Escort Service received up to 10 calls a night asking for their services.

"A few weeks ago, I noticed that the fraternity I was at had posters with the escort service all over the walls," Ferris said. "The fact that people do call someone, either the escort service or a friend, proves that people are more aware."

Moerschbacher said Penn State is moving in the right direction.

"We're starting to get the word out and people are beginning to pick up on what we're saying," Moerschbacher said. "However, more people still need to be aware that [sexual assault] can happen to anyone and they need to take reasonable precautions."