The article ("Decrease seen in assaults," Jan. 18) is riddled with inaccuracies, errors, and mistruths that serve to foster a culture in which rape and sexual assault are misunderstood.

First, rape and sexual assault are the most underreported crimes in the country, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the number of crimes reported to the police drastically under represents the number actual rapes and sexual assaults.

The article states that there were nine sexual assaults in 2003 and 12 in 2004, which is preposterous.

These figures, at best, represent the number of sexual assaults reported to police.

More accurate estimates of the numbers of sexual assault could have easily been obtained through the Center for Women Students on campus, as this office regularly tracks the number of sexual assaults and rapes reported to any university official each year. These figures indicate that 99 people -- 97 of whom were women -- reported a sexual assault in 2003.

Still, crime experts, like the FBI, indicate that rape and sexual assault are significantly under reported. It suggests that the number of women who were actually sexually assaulted in our community in 2003 is six to 10 times what has been reported, such that hundreds of women were sexually assaulted at Penn State in 2003. Women are hesitant to report sexual assault and rape because victim blaming, shame, and disbelief that characterize our societys view on rape.

Your article supports this culture by suggesting that rape and sexual assault is no longer a "serious problem" for women, and that more frequent police patrols of the downtown area are responsible for the alleged reduction in sexual assaults. In fact, the way to prevent sexual assault and rape is quite simple: Teach men -- the primary perpetrators -- not to rape. Finally, I am deeply troubled that you've suggested that sexual assault and rape are similar to alcohol violations.

By including these two topics in one article, and by suggesting that there are similarities in both types of crimes, you propose that rape and underage drinking are of a similar caliber.

In fact, rape is a felony and a crime that irrevocably damages the person who was violated. Shame on you for the way you mishandled this incredibly important topic.