
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 30, 1994                   TAG: 9401300110
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

ROBBERY, THEFT UP ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Reports of robbery, assault and motor-vehicle theft on college campuses rose last year, but there were fewer burglaries and murders than a year earlier, according to a survey of 774 schools.

The Chronicle of Higher Education, analyzing annual security statements filed by the schools, reported Saturday there were 1,353 on-campus robberies in 1993, up about 12 percent from 1992.

The colleges reported 3,224 cases of aggravated assault, up from 3,141, and 7,350 motor-vehicle thefts, up from 7,159. Burglaries dropped about 4 percent, to 21,478, the newspaper said, while the number of murders fell by one, to 17.

The colleges also reported 466 rapes and 448 forcible sex offenses, but the Chronicle said those figures could not be compared with data from the previous year because of changes in the definition of sex crimes.

Federal law requires the schools to prepare annual security reports and distribute them to students and staff. Critics say some schools deliberately underreport crime on their campuses.

Patricia A. McGuire, president of Trinity College, told the newspaper, "By under-reporting crime, we are increasing the likelihood that the quality of safety on campus is deteriorating, not improving."

by CNB