Being No. 1 isn't always a good thing.

Vanderbilt University is ranked No. 1 among Tennessee colleges for on-campus rapes in 2007, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Reported rapes at Vanderbilt rose from three in 2006 to 13 reported rapes last year.

However, Vanderbilt Police Department Chief of Police Marlon Lynch is not immediately concerned about the sudden rise. He said he believes the higher rate is due to the effectiveness of Vanderbilt programs.

"Here at Vanderbilt, we have two ways of reporting ... the traditional way and the option to report anonymously," Lynch said. "The actual reports reported were five. The other option is through Project Safe, and they received eight. The ability to report anonymously encourages victims to report at Vanderbilt."

Yet some students, especially those new to Vanderbilt, are troubled.

"I'm alarmed," said freshman Mariah Deans. "We never hear about the rapes."

Freshmen Tracy Okoli and Dana Reynolds echoed Deans's sentiment.

"I'm really shocked," Reynolds said. "People shouldn't walk around campus by themselves at night."

"We need more lights by the library and more security around campus," Okoli said.

Students who have attended Vanderbilt for a while, however, were more apathetic.

"I'm not surprised by the high number of rapes at Vanderbilt," said senior Ashley Adams. "After you've been here for four years, it's not surprising anymore."

Senior Danielle Jupiter agreed with Adams, suggesting that colleges are conducive environments for rape.

"It sucks, but it's the reality of Vanderbilt with the amount of alcohol and partying that goes on here," Jupiter said.

Senior Ashleigh Beemer said she wished the university would take a bigger stand against rape.

"I've had a friend that was raped here at Vanderbilt," Beemer said. "My friend ended up leaving Vandy because of the position that the attacker was in. He was too valuable to Vanderbilt to be punished."

Lynch offered his own suggestions on how the rate can be lowered.

"It's the community's responsibility, not just VUPD," Lynch said. "In many of these situations, the assailant and the victim knew each other. If they are on a date or alone in a situation, we can't possibly intervene."

Beemer believed the high number of rapes on campus were due to the lack of education to the Vanderbilt male population on women's issues.

"They don't have to take any women's studies courses and receive no education on how to judge sexual incidents other than during freshmen orientation," Beemer said.

However, Lynch cites the education programs VUPD and the Margaret Cuninggim Women's Center sponsor as a means to lower the rate of rapes that happen on campus.

"VUPD offers the (Rape Aggression Defense) program, which teaches defensive and preparation tactics. We also have programs regarding alcoholic consumption," Lynch said. "The Women's Center also has programs for men and women about dos and don'ts and just overall responsibility."

—Danielle Gantt can be reached at danielle.a.gantt@vanderbilt.edu