Final answer:
Violent crime rates, including those on campuses, have generally decreased over the last decade, despite public perception often thinking otherwise.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the trend of violent crimes on campuses over the last decade, we can look at general crime trends in the United States. Crime rates, especially for violent crimes, have actually been on a decline since the early 1990s, according to sources such as the UCR. This contrasts with public perception, which often believes crime rates are high or worsening. Based on the available data, including the fact that rates for violent and property crimes have fallen recently, the answer is that the rate of violent crimes on campuses over the last decade has most likely decreased.