Abiding by Massachusetts laws enacted in 2002, Boston University provides a link on the BU Police Department website to an Internet database of sex offenders living, working or otherwise affiliated with locations in the commonwealth, including those on BU’s campus.

Two Level 3 sex offenders are associated with addresses on the Charles River campus, although they do not live at those locations. According to the state registry, 222 Level 2 and 112 Level 3 sex offenders live in Boston.

Boston University cannot be faulted in its adherence to the law. It can, however, go above and beyond it to make sure students are aware of crime statistics. Despite BU’s urban setting, students become comfortable because they are surrounded by their peers. While sex offenders stand out in small towns, they blend into city crowds.

BU does make an effort to advise students to be aware of the possible dangers around them on campus. The BU Escort Service’s phone number is listed on all Terrier Cards.

The university goes further to ensure safety. It recently set up a website advertising fire-safety awareness to draw students’ attention to a specific danger that has affected the community in recent months.

Boston University has not, however, created such a website exclusively dedicated to sexual-assault awareness. While BU makes it clear that crisis counseling is available to students through Student Health Services and rape crisis centers are available nearby in Boston, it has not fully responded to the requests of different student groups who ask for an organization dedicated exclusively to this.

Administrators may think the presence of a sexual-assault center may send the wrong message to students and their families. Yet, the presence of a police department on campus does not indicate high rates of violent crime. Likewise, an open attitude toward addressing sexual assault and its prevention does not mean rape and other sex crimes are common.

However rare, sex crimes on campus are a reality. According to BUPD statistics for 2005, there were seven “forcible sex offenses” reported at BU, but according to the Justice Department, in 2003, only 38.5 percent of rapes and sexual assaults in the United States were reported.

Openness about sexual crime will not make BU appear dangerous. Rather, it enhances its dedication to safety. Harvard University established the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office in 2003. Boston College has its Sexual Assault Network, a 24-hour confidential helpline exclusively for sexual assault and relationship violence. Tufts University has the Student Sexual Assault Response Assistance program. These programs do not make their colleges any less appealing to students.

Students must see all possible dangers on campus, even if this means BU must draw attention to them.