CAMPUS BRIEF: Thursday, January 14, 1999

Two students robbed in separate incidents One of the victims was walking on the 4200 block of Locust Street at about 12:17 a.m. yesterday morning when three women approached her from behind and began beating her face, neck and arms, demanding that she give them money. When the victim told the assailants she didn't have any money, they took her coat, scarf, gloves and PennCard, police said. The victim notified University Police, who immediately responded and stopped three women on the 3400 block of Locust Walk. The alleged assailants -- Theresa Ratcliff, 22, Sharon Jones, 28, and Latoya Williams, 19 -- were positively identified by the victim and arrested. Philadelphia Police refused to divulge their current status. Another female student was robbed yesterday morning, when at approximately 11 a.m., a knife-wielding man stopped a woman as she entered a small park at 39th and Delancey streets. The assailant told the victim not to scream and slashed the back of her hand when she covered her mouth with her hands. He ordered the victim to give him her money, but when she took too long to open her bookbag, he demanded that she give him the jewelry she was wearing instead. He took a silver Cartier watch, an initial ring and an opal ring, together worth $3,300, police said. After taking her jewelry, the assailant knocked the victim to the ground and ran, according to police. No arrests have been made in the case. The man is described as a clean-shaven African-American male, aged 25 to 30 years old, approximately 6' tall and weighing about 190 pounds. -- Laura McClure