America has a sexual assault problem. The rate of rape, abuse, and other sexually violent crimes has increased dramatically especially on college campuses, turning these campuses into a less-friendly learning atmosphere.

Nearly one in five women surveyed said that they had been raped or had experienced an attempted rape at some point, according to The New York Times.

This ratio is alarmingly high, and what is even more concerning is that reported rape rates are only increasing.

According to National Public Radio, a nonprofit media organization, the rate of reported rape crimes went up 49 percent in just four years from 2008 -2012.

There needs to be more mandatory programs for students and faculty that educate students about rape awareness, prevention and reporting.

Twenty one percent of schools provide no response training for faculty and staff. Thirty one percent offer no instruction whatsoever for students, much less resources or support services for survivors, according to Fox News.

By providing these programs schools would be educating students how to prevent these crimes and what to do to help others report and deal with these situations.

With this knowledge more students will understand how  to help one another.

If these programs can be carried out, campuses would be safer place for students.

An atmosphere of education and understanding would decrease potential assault and increase general safety.

Apart from not providing educational programs, most colleges and universities need to take sexual violence crimes more seriously and start to have more thorough investigations into these crimes.

Colleges and universities are not doing enough to support those who were victimized. More often than not on campuses the offender does not receive any punishment, demonstrating the crime is not taken seriously.

Ten Columbia University undergraduate students were accused of sexual assault in the 2013-14 academic year. None were punished, according to the Huffington Post.

If colleges crack down harder on regulations and punishment then the rate of crimes committed would become significantly fewer. By doing this, colleges would discourage others from committing such crimes.

Campuses are not holding offenders responsible and this is setting a horrible image by discouraging victims from reporting the attacks and displaying that others can commit these crimes with little fear of what will happen afterwards.

It is estimated that out of every 100 rapes in America, only 40 will get reported to the police, according to rainn.org. Of those 40, only three offenders will be convicted.

Colleges and universities need to work harder to educate and keep their students safe, while showing support for times when these crimes happen and help is needed.To do this properly campuses must create classes or programs to help students and faculty understand how important and dangerous these crimes are.

At the same time stop protecting the offenders in order to keep the campuses safe.