Recently, the Tech Equestrian Club found a way to distinguish itself in the Atlanta community as well.

The victim of the aggravated assault incident that occurred on campus Thursday, Feb. 5 is recuperating from his wounds at Grady Memorial Hospital. Kshitij Shrotri, a recent Tech graduate, allegedly attacked Samer Tawfik, a post-doctoral fellow at the Weber SST building with a katana sword. Tawfik suffered lacerations to both his hands and wrists and a wound to the left side of his torso. Following a long procedure in the operating room that lasted late into Thursday night, Tawfik’s condition is currently stable, but he has yet to be released, as of Wednesday Feb. 10

The Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD), in collaboration with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS), participated this week in the Severe Weather Awareness Week. From Feb. 1 through Feb. 6, the GTPD’s Office of Emergency Preparedness offered demonstrations and classes aimed to prepare students and faculty for the potential and possibility of severe weather in the Atlanta area.

Crime reports from around campus.

Kshitij Shrotri, a Tech AE PhD, 2008, has been charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly stabbed Samer Tawfik, a post-doctoral fellow on Thursday, Feb. 4 at approximately 1:15 p.m. at the Weber Space Science and Technology building. The victim was taken to Grady Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Atlanta Police Department Chief Richard Pennington announced plans to place four more police officers on and around Tech campus. The announcement was made on Tuesday Oct. 13 at a City Hall press conference following a string of violent crime around both the Tech campus as well as the Atlanta University Center (AUC).

The Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD) will add an eight man SWAT team to its force in the coming months. The team’s formation is the culmination of over three years of work by the administration to increase emergency preparedness and safety on campus.

In light of recent events, crime on campus has become an imperative concern to members of the community. SGA is planning to host a “Crime Prevention and Awareness Night” on Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at the IC Lawn in an effort to educate students about safety practices and inform them about crime prevention measures taken by the Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD) in conjunction with the Atlanta Police Department (APD).

The Georgia Tech Police Department is implementing a new plan in cooperation with the Atlanta police department to combat robberies in Zone 5 (the area encompassing Midtown and downtown Atlanta which also includes Tech’s campus). Although statistically speaking, crime rates are down 10% this year, there has been a surge in crime concentrated around the Tech campus, punctuated by serious incidents such as the separate shootings of a Georgia State student and a Tech student.

Georgia Tech Chief of Police Teresa Crocker returned June 3 from a two week long training exchange program in Israel. Crocker participated in the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) program with 17 other delegates from various law enforcement agencies.