It’s hard to conceive of two “economic indicators” with seemingly less in common: the number of students pursuing college degrees, and the number of persons inflicting serious harm or injury on one another.

A recent News-Press story reported that enrollments at Midland Empire college campuses are at all-time highs. Missouri Western State University saw its total enrollment climb nearly 3 percent, to 5,535. North Central Missouri College in Trenton, Mo., reported a record 1,524 enrolled students. Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., reported 1,357 undergraduates – another record.

Improved recruitment is cited, but also the economy. Students are looking for “more bang for the buck,” and are finding it on the region’s moderately priced two-year and four-year campuses.

Another News-Press story noted that aggravated assaults reported to St. Joseph police are up sharply. Through August, the city had recorded 149 aggravated assaults – compared to 89 through the same date in 2006 and 71 in the same period in 2007.

Investigators speculate that tougher economic situations have strained domestic relationships. They add that assault is a “response-driven” crime – it’s not nearly as easy to deter as, for instance, burglaries are deterred by neighborhood watch programs.

Police Chief Chris Connally is right to consider his options for reining in the serious problem of aggravated assault. He says further analysis is needed of the statistics, although one number says a lot: 70 percent of the increase in aggravated assaults can be traced to domestic assaults, which by definition involve a family member.

Chief Connally recognizes that early intervention into simmering family problems could help, but this will require earlier calls to support services and more conscious focus on prevention of assaults where another person would be endangered.

And there is one more proven approach: To head off the stresses that come with economic downtowns, try minimizing their effects by being gainfully employed in meaningful, in-demand work and adding jobs skills that will keep you that way.

That’s how the spike in college enrollments works to reduce future spikes in aggravated assaults.