SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – The University of Notre Dame is investigating reports of three rapes and one attempted rape reported on the northern Indiana campus in less than a month.

The South Bend Tribune reports three rapes were reported to Notre Dame Security Police in September while the attempted rape was reported to an administrator. The university had eight reports of rapes in total for the three previous years combined.
 
University spokesman Dennis Brown says the allegations are under investigation. Brown says the number of sexual assault-related crimes was expected to increase because of the university's efforts to increase awareness of what constitutes sexual violence and how to report it.
 
The U.S. Department of Education in April 2011 outlined to colleges nationwide their responsibilities in confronting sexual assaults.