More SIUC students will become the victims of aggravated assault/battery and theft this year than in 1993 and 1994, if the crime rates for the first six months of 1995 continue.

Aggravated assaults/batteries on SIUC’s campus increased 46 percent from 1993 to 1994, and is projected to jump another 68 percent from 1994 to 1995.

All percentages and figures were derived from statistics supplied by the SIUC, University of Illinois, Illinois State and Eastern Illinois University police departments.

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The projected 1995 crime rates were calculated by doubling the number of crimes committed over the first six months in 1995. The 1994-to-1995 percentage of change was calculated using the projected 1995 crime rates.

SIUC University Police Sergeant Nelson Ferry said a person who commits aggravated battery intentionally or knowingly causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement.

There were 22 aggravated assaults/batteries reported to the SIUC University Police in 1994.

Of the 22 aggravated assaults/batteries, ten took place in on-campus housing, one was in Thompson Woods and the rest took place on streets or in parking lots.

All but one of the aggravated assaults/batteries occurred

see RATES, page 6