Dear KU students: What do you really think about guns in your classroom or dorm?
No guns signs are posted on a side door of KU's Art and Design Building, as well as other buildings on campus, pictured in May 2015.
How do Kansas state university students really feel about concealed guns coming to campus? And what do they think about various policy scenarios that might be put in place to deal with that impending reality? A new survey — which students at Kansas University and other state schools should have in their email inboxes today — seeks answers.
At least at KU, I’ve overwhelmingly heard students and employees flat-out ridicule the law and say they hate the whole idea. But that’s just conversational. Most academics would probably agree with us journalists, the more hard data the better, so I’m pretty interested to see what this survey will reveal.
Members of the Students Advisory Committee to the Kansas Board of Regents (KU Student Body President Jessie Pringle is chairwoman) have been talking about doing the survey since their retreat in August and worked with the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University to create and execute it. Students have until Nov. 25 to take the survey, and results are expected to be out in December, according to a KU Student Senate news release.
“It’s important that students have a space to say something about their feelings of safety and security on campus whether that means carrying or prohibiting,” Pringle said, in the release. “Leaving out student voices does not create sound policy.”
In case you missed my previous articles on the issue, here’s a CliffsNotes version of why guns are coming to campus: Under Kansas law, anyone who is legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon will be able to do so on college campuses as of July 1, 2017. If universities want to prohibit weapons inside any building, that building must be equipped with “adequate security measures” such as metal detectors or guards. Concealed weapons are already allowed on public property, but universities have an exemption that runs out in 2017. The Regents have drafted updates to their statewide weapons policy that they hope to vote on in mid-December. Then individual universities are supposed to develop more detailed implementation policies for their respective campuses.
“From the survey, SAC hopes to gain an aggregate and university specific opinions regarding guns on campus,” the KU Student Senate statement said. “SAC plans to bring the results to university administrations and the Kansas Board of Regents to ensure that the voices of students are heard.”
Here’s some of what the survey wants to find out from students (questions paraphrased):
• Do you think concealed guns be prohibited or allowed in campus buildings, at sporting events or in outdoor areas? Do you feel the same way for employees, students and visitors?
• How strongly do you support or oppose gun storage lockers in various areas of campus? Does your opinion differ for handguns v. hunting rifles?
• How high a fee would you be willing to pay for your university to install these adequate security measures in buildings?
• In your opinion, how would allowing concealed carry on campus affect campus crime levels?
• How would allowing concealed carry on your campus affect your decision to attend this university?
• Reach me by email at sshepherd@ljworld.com, by phone at 832-7187, on Twitter @saramarieshep or via Facebook at Facebook.com/SaraShepherdNews.
Dear KU students: What do you really think about guns in your classroom or dorm?
No guns signs are posted on a side door of KU's Art and Design Building, as well as other buildings on campus, pictured in May 2015.
How do Kansas state university students really feel about concealed guns coming to campus? And what do they think about various policy scenarios that might be put in place to deal with that impending reality? A new survey — which students at Kansas University and other state schools should have in their email inboxes today — seeks answers.
At least at KU, I’ve overwhelmingly heard students and employees flat-out ridicule the law and say they hate the whole idea. But that’s just conversational. Most academics would probably agree with us journalists, the more hard data the better, so I’m pretty interested to see what this survey will reveal.
Members of the Students Advisory Committee to the Kansas Board of Regents (KU Student Body President Jessie Pringle is chairwoman) have been talking about doing the survey since their retreat in August and worked with the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University to create and execute it. Students have until Nov. 25 to take the survey, and results are expected to be out in December, according to a KU Student Senate news release.
“It’s important that students have a space to say something about their feelings of safety and security on campus whether that means carrying or prohibiting,” Pringle said, in the release. “Leaving out student voices does not create sound policy.”
In case you missed my previous articles on the issue, here’s a CliffsNotes version of why guns are coming to campus: Under Kansas law, anyone who is legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon will be able to do so on college campuses as of July 1, 2017. If universities want to prohibit weapons inside any building, that building must be equipped with “adequate security measures” such as metal detectors or guards. Concealed weapons are already allowed on public property, but universities have an exemption that runs out in 2017. The Regents have drafted updates to their statewide weapons policy that they hope to vote on in mid-December. Then individual universities are supposed to develop more detailed implementation policies for their respective campuses.
“From the survey, SAC hopes to gain an aggregate and university specific opinions regarding guns on campus,” the KU Student Senate statement said. “SAC plans to bring the results to university administrations and the Kansas Board of Regents to ensure that the voices of students are heard.”
Here’s some of what the survey wants to find out from students (questions paraphrased):
• Do you think concealed guns be prohibited or allowed in campus buildings, at sporting events or in outdoor areas? Do you feel the same way for employees, students and visitors?
• How strongly do you support or oppose gun storage lockers in various areas of campus? Does your opinion differ for handguns v. hunting rifles?
• How high a fee would you be willing to pay for your university to install these adequate security measures in buildings?
• In your opinion, how would allowing concealed carry on campus affect campus crime levels?
• How would allowing concealed carry on your campus affect your decision to attend this university?
• Reach me by email at sshepherd@ljworld.com, by phone at 832-7187, on Twitter @saramarieshep or via Facebook at Facebook.com/SaraShepherdNews.