In anticipation of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, President Graham Spanier released comments Tuesday about crimes of aggression and sexual violence that occur at Penn State.

"We are fully committed to combating sexual violence and to responding quickly and compassionately to those victimized by it," Spanier said in the statement.

Spanier said there is no tolerance for rape, sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence or other harmful acts "that destroy the dignity and self-worth of any member of our community."

Stephen MacCarthy, vice president for university relations, said the letter was released in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which occurs every year.

"We think it is important that the university community be aware of this issue," MacCarthy said.

In the last few months, information about several incidents of sexual assault that have occurred in State College have become available.

Former Penn State wrestler Jean Celestin was released of charges after being accused of assaulting a 19-year-old female student in 1999.

Scott Paxson, current student and former Penn State football player, is currently facing charges of sexual assault of a female student for an incident that occurred in December 2004 in his Nittany Apartments residence.

Penn State student Shawn Cornelius, 20, will face trial for allegedly sexually assaulting an 18-year-old female student while she was unconscious at the Kappa Alpha fraternity, 234 E. Beaver Ave., in October.

Corey Cook, director of education and outreach for the Centre County Women's Resource Center, said Spanier's letter is a promising sign that the university is acknowledging the prevalence of the issue.

One in three women and one in seven men will be the victims of an attempted or completed sexual assault during their lifetime, Cook said.

Susan Del Ponte, program coordinator for the Penn State Center for Women Students, said 106 female students reported a sexual assault during the 2004-05 school year.

"In a college environment, about 90 percent of college rape victims have some prior relationship with the perpetrator," she said.

She said the university does a good job of helping the victims of sexual assault, particularly by paying for medical care, which is not a common practice at other universities.

Most sexual assaults are not reported for fear of not being believed, and many victims want to put the incident behind them, Del Ponte added.

Tyrone Parham, Penn State University Police assistant director, said sexual assault is a crime that is underreported, many times because victims are afraid they will be prosecuted if alcohol was involved in the assault.

Parham said university police do not prosecute victims if they are under 21 and have consumed alcohol.

After an assault is reported, the victim makes all decisions. It is the victim's choice just to document the assault and not press charges, he said.

Parham said encouragement from friends can be a major factor in victims choosing to come forward. "You never know when someone close to you may need your assistance," he added.