The fight for and against sensible gun control has now landed in a most unusual place — the college campus. The University of Texas may very likely turn into ground zero for the next big battle over guns. The Texas state legislature passed a bill that will take effect in August designed to remove barriers to full-out conceal and carry. In a majority of states, establishments retain a right to prohibit firearms on their property. This is critical (and final) layer of protection for many sensitive workplaces such as religious institutions and schools.
But thanks to the new Texas statute (Bill 11) when faculty and students return to class this fall, Longhorns all over campus may be armed. Already the campus community of UT has rallied against the law with many students and staff signing petitions. Several faculty have resigned over the issue and at least one potential administrator has passed on a job in Austin.
Dr. Siva Vaidhyanathan was looking forward to becoming the next dean of the communication school at UT. That was until he got wind of the new law and the raging debate.
“’I concluded that if there were a situation in which a faculty member insisted on having no weapons in the classroom and that faculty member were challenged on that, I would have to be in a position where I would have to decide between supporting that faculty member and his or her decision to protect the sanctity and security of the classroom, or to respect the state law.’ Siva Vaidhyanathan speaking to The Guardian.”
Vaidhyanathan elected to pass on the position at UT and he’s not the only one. Frederick Steiner, who is currently dean of the architectural school, is resigning post at the end of the summer. For Steiner, the new law is about safety as much as good old politics.
“’I, in a way, felt that public higher education was under assault, and then the campus carry bill came along and required us to allow people with concealed handgun permits to be inside of buildings and it excluded private universities in the state, even though many of the private universities receive various big subsidies,’ Frederick Steiner speaking to The Guardian.”
The GOP-dominated State House argued that the passing of Bill 11 would make colleges and universities a safer place. In reality, the law reeks of the standard NRA stated position where any limitation of the right to bear arms is an assault on an individual’s 2nd Amendment rights. Moreover, it takes a great deal of autonomy away from campus administrators and their board of regents to govern their own campuses.
A December 2015 study in the Chronicle of Higher Education found that college faculty are already very nervous about gun violence on campus. In an environment already in frenzy over the recent on-campus shootings, adding more guns to the mix seems to defy logic. At the University of Houston, the law is already having another chilling effect. In a recent training, faculty were advised to avoid discussing sensitive subjects in class and not to confront students. It was also made clear that starting August 1st, professors could not ban guns from their classrooms.
Jonathan Snow, head of UH faculty senate, acknowledged that allowing students to be armed on campus would radically change the academic environment.
“’It’s an invasion of gun culture into campus life. We are worried that we have to change the way we teach to accommodate this minority of potentially dangerous students.’ Snow said to the Chronicle of Higher Education.”
Texas is not the only state to pass legislation specifically allowing individuals to carry firearms on campus. Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Utah, and Wisconsin have all passed similar laws. Legislation is currently being debated in Georgia and Alabama.
Featured image courtesy of Alcade used under license.
