The number of acts of intolerance reported at Penn State has risen from 20 to 34, as reported in the fall 2004 Bias Motivated Incidents Report.

The 20 incidents reported in spring 2004 showed a slight decrease from the 21 reported acts of intolerance in fall of 2003.

An act of intolerance includes physical threats, psychological threats and damage to property motivated by differences that are not easily altered, said Denise Hinds-Zaami, a university diversity advocate and counselor.

Terrell Jones, vice provost of educational equity, said he thinks it is unfair to attribute the rise in incidents to an increase in student intolerance.

"The awareness of issue reporting has increased. Therefore, students are much more likely if something does happen to report it," he said.

Another possible reason why more victims may be coming forward could be an anti-hate campaign that was started last semester, Hinds-Zaami said.

"There are signs around the university [advocating] zero tolerance for hate," she added.

Hinds-Zaami said all the incidents were "upsetting," including one particular episode where a young black man had a derogatory name scrawled in red marker on the door of his dorm room.

"[The man] said, 'This is not what I came to college for. I came to learn,' " she said. "You could hear the shaking in his voice. He was ready to give up."

In September, 17 incidents were reported, the highest month by far.

Hinds-Zaami speculated that most incidents occurred early in the semester because students are returning from their summer breaks, where they are immersed in their "cultural pockets."

Last semester, 21 of the 34 reported acts of intolerance were due to a victim's race or ethnicity. In fall 2003, only two intolerant acts due to race or ethnicity were reported and there were 10 reported in the spring of 2003. There were no reported acts of intolerance against disabled students.

Black Caucus President Ed Smith said he believes the university does not put enough effort into creating a safe and comfortable environment for minority students.

"I hope to see Penn State make a better financial, social and physical effort to enforce the principles they set and not get in a student's way when they try to," he said.

Statistics for acts of intolerance against women were not included in the report, as it is protocol for such incidents to go through the Center for Women Students, said Peggy Lorah, Center for Women Students director.

She said the number of acts of intolerance against women has remained steadily high over the past decade.

"They hover around 100 reports [per year]," Lorah said.

The number in reality may be much higher, as many women do not report the incidents.

"We always estimate that one in 10 will report it," Lorah said. "You internalize it, and it evokes shame."

Penn State University Police Supervisor Dwight Smith said the department solely handles acts of intolerance that are classified as hate crimes, such as harassment, simple assault and theft.

"For the year 2004, there were eight acts of intolerance that were bias-motivated," Smith said. He added there were only four reported hate crimes in 2003.

Smith said university police recently received training within the department to better understand diversity issues.

In addition to the anti-hate campaign, Hinds-Zaami said the university has other plans to further promote a tolerating message, including orientations and organized speeches.