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Violent crimes by university students rise up

Twenty-six college students have been involved in 20 violent crimes since 2004 in Beijing, according to Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court Monday, which covers eight districts.


Among the 26 offenders, 25 are male and 20 are students who are not local Beijing residents. Most of the 20 cases are crimes of passion as many of the cases resulted from drunken behavior or romantic disputes. Premeditated violent crimes from university students increased by 150 percent in the past five years.


The most high profile case in recent years was from a 23-year-old from China University of Political Science and Law stabbing a professor to death in the classroom a year ago because he thought the professor was having an affair with his girlfriend. The student was sentenced to death on a two-year reprieve Tuesday.


A similar case occurred at Beijing Industry University this February where a student stabbed his teacher with a knife, and in the Communication University of China, a student killed his girlfriend and then committed suicide last semester.


A psychological counselor surnamed Ruan, working for the Psychological Consulting Center at Beijing Industry University did not wish to comment on the specific case at his university, but said, "The help from the university is limited. This is a very deep problem relating to the Chinese education system and family education."


Many believe these violent crimes could be stopped by better counseling by university administrations.


The Beijing government has directed that the correct ratio of students to counselors should be 3000 to one, as the professors and academic counselors are busy with their hundreds of students.


"I didn't know our university had any sort of Psychological Consulting Center until I was a senior and I never go there for help," said Li Yang, a postgraduate at the Communication University of China. "I always turn to my classmates and friends for help when I meet some problems."