Conflict in Texas over Campus Carry

By Bailey Savage

Campus Carry, also known as SB 11, has sparked conflict in universities across the state of Texas.

Senate Bill 11, which goes into effect August 1, obligates public universities in Texas to allow persons with a concealed handgun license to conceal a gun on university premises. Although a poll by the Texas Tribune shows that more than 50 percent of Texans support the new law, more than 40 percent do not.

Heather C. Galloway
Photo By
Ron Silva

As stated in the Texas Tribune, many professors at the University of Texas at Austin, one in particular being Professor Steven Weinberg, tried to convince Austin officials to allow professors to ban guns in their classrooms. UT-Austin President, Greg Fenves, along with officials, determined that it would be in violation of the law.

Professors, like students, want to feel safe on campus while doing their job. Some professors feel that with this new Campus Carry law going into effect, controversial discussions in the classroom will be put to a halt.

Keisha Ray
Photo By
Katherine Huerta

Heather C. Galloway, Dean of Honors College at Texas State University, said that Campus Carry makes her concerned for the way instructors will communicate with their students.

"The campus environment does not improve by allowing students to legally carry firearms," Galloway said.

Keisha Ray, a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, says she opposes the new law. Like Dean Galloway, Ray thinks the law will cause students to feel intimidated and not want to discuss their opinions on controversial subjects.

Hakeer Kaymore
Photo By
Bailey Savage

“It’s laws that we have to abide by, but I am very weary of it actually doing any good,” Ray said.

Some students agree with this theory that Campus Carry will make people less likely to speak up about their opinions. With guns in the room, it may make people uneasy and unaware of what the person next to them might do. Hakeer Kaymore, a business management major at Texas State, said he opposed the Campus Carry law.

“Students actually in class may feel more scared to speak up because of others reactions,” Kaymore said.

Kristen Courtney
Photo By
Rebecca Mendoza

Students, like Business Administration Major, E.J. Garza and Biology Major, Kristen Courtney, are bothered by the fact that students around them on campus may have guns. Peers having concealed weapons may lead to students feeling unsafe.

E.J. Garza
Photo By
Judith Prieto-Rodriguez

"I just feel like a gun could land in the hands of the wrong person," Garza said. "Things can happen in a split second."

"People can get mad and act unintentionally," Courtney said.

To share your thoughts, learn more about what Campus Carry is and learn about Texas State University's Task Force visit Office of the President.

Caution with the Campus Carry Law at Texas State University | By: Kelsey Maxfield

Caution with the Campus Carry Law at Texas State University

By: Kelsey Maxfield

Professors and students spoke out about the opposition of the campus carry law during multiple interviews casted March 29, 2016 on Texas State University.

According to the NCSL website, Texas is one of eight states in favor of this law. While there are 19 states who have banned for schools to allow concealed weapons on campus. It will take into effect beginning of August 2016.

After the conducted interviews on campus, most of the people agree it is more of a threat than advantageous. Many of them believe it could disrupt the environment of the classroom.

"I worry about the impact on classroom discussion. I worry about the way that the presence of fire arms changing our ability to have open discussions about uncomfortable topics,” philosophy Professor Bob Fischer said.

 

 

Professor Fischer. Photo by Sawyer Stull

“I oppose it coming out of it from an instructor’s point of view. To think about maybe talking about touchy subjects that students might get upset at and then they have a weapon. You know it may be intimidating for students to talk about some topics if they know that their classmates have a weapon,” Professor Keisha Ray said.

 

 

Professor Ray. Photo by Katherine Huerta

The interviewee’s also made an argument that if there is campus UPD, there is no need for concealed weapons at school.

“I just feel that it would be completely unnecessary since we have UPD here,” student Carlos Flores said. “We already have people in charge in case something happens.”

Carlos Flores. Photo by Annalise Hughes

 "I don’t really see the point as to why you would need a gun on campus. Unless you were that worried about your life, but why would you be if we already have campus security and police,” student Melanie Bush said. "The only part of campus carry that I would support is for mostly women late at night. With the assaults that happen late at night on campus.”

Melanie Bush. Photo by Erik Rodriguez

Another point was made about the college atmosphere in general.

“College is a time when people kind of have a chance to make bad decisions and good decisions and learn about themselves, but then when you put lethal weapons in the mix it just doesn't seem like a good thing to bring to the table,” graduate student Rachel Brownlee said.

 

Rachel Brownlee. Photo by Dylan Anguiano

“It might change how we interact with students and how we treat the students,” Dean of the Honors College Heather G. Galloway said. She also said that the environment of the campus does not improve by having this law implemented.

Dean Galloway. Photo by Ron Silva

Even though there were multiple interviewee’s, all of their opinions are the same. They are, in general, opposed to the law. On the Texas State website there is the rules for the campus carry law.

 

 

 

Hand Guns on Texas State Campus Reason for Discussion

By:  Gabrielle Gibson

Whether for or against it, students have something to say about the Campus Carry law, and aren’t taking the matter lightly.

Interviews on Monday revealed that students were aware of the campus carry law effecting Texas State University starting August 1, 2016. Texas State legislature passed a law allowing people, with a license to own a gun, to carry a concealed handgun on campus. Although people that can have a handgun license have to be over the age of 21, all age students and staff will be 

effected by this law. 

Terry Bertling
Photo by: Morgan Mitchell

According to an update by Jayme Blaschke, on Texas State’s website, approximately 59 percent of students on campus are eligible to carry a concealed handgun license. But there are strict rules and certain places handguns will not be permitted, like sporting events.

One lecturer, Terry Bertling, 60, said that she would rather students not carry and that it does not create a good environment for learning.      

Taylor Cavin
Photo by: Corey Rowland 

Some students also mentioned the effect it might have in class. There is a fear that controversial subjects could cause someone to take matters into their own hands. 

Taylor Cavin, 20, points out that UPD is increasing their task force in response to this law being passed.

“Why would they need to do that if we are safer?” Cavin said.

Hakeer Kaymore
Photo by: Bailey Savage 

President Denise Trauth formed a 25-member Campus Carry Task Force, comprised of faculty, staff, students, and administrators, Blaschke said. This task force was formed in response to the law being passed. 

Hakeer Kaymore, 19, a business management major who opposes campus carry. 

 “Students actually in class may feel more scared to speak up because of other peoples  reactions.” Kaymore said. 

Of all the students interviewed, majority said they are not in favor of this new law being passed. 

Carlos Flores
Photo by: Annie Hughes

"I'm completely against it of course! I feel that the excuse of needing weapons to protect ourselves is a poor argument.” Carlos Flores said. 

Carlos, 20, is an english major and said it would be unnecessary because UPD is already on campus. 

Arte Vega
Photo by: Gabrielle Gibson

Though not as many supporting students were interviewed, Arte Vega said he supports it. Vega  is a 19-year-old computer science major. Although he has a few years until he would be allowed to own a gun of his own, he said he believes in the second amendment.

Some say that the security of having a gun makes them feel safer.

“In a way I kinda support it because if a school shooter were to come by it would be a lot faster for a student to react than have somebody having to come all the way over here and react” Kristin Courtney said. 

Kristen Courtney, 18, is a biology major. Although she supported it, she has no plans of getting a license and bringing a gun to school. 

Kristen Courtney
Photo by: Rebecca Mendoza

Students, staff and officers all have an opinion about this new law. Rules by President Trauth have been released with an overview of policies.   

Texas State University Allows for Campus Carry

By Corey Rowland

Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, which is home to roughly 35,000 students, has made the decision to allow campus carry of a weapon legal as of August 1, 2016 and it has caused quite the dilemma.

By Corey Rowland

Texas State University will allow anyone who meets the requirements to obtain a concealed handgun license to openly carry a weapon on campus. Some students aren’t too thrilled with the situation. 

Not only does this new law affect the students of Texas State, but the faculty and University police department as well. One student feels that we should already feel safe without this new law in place.

 “I oppose carry on campus because this is a place of education, and we already have the measures that we need to feel safe as it is,“ Texas State University student Taylor Cavin said.

Although this is a place of education, that still does not change the fact that people do get robbed on the Texas State campus, whether this is a place of education or not.

“Well, the campus is increasing its University police department staff due to the passing of this,” Cavin said. “Why would they need to do that if we are safer?”

With that being said, it does raise concern for the need to expand the force of Texas States University’s police officers. It would make more sense to some to even lower the amount of officers that are on the campus, if the whole point of the campus carry law is to make people safer.

 “I feel that the campus atmosphere was safe enough as it was, and now I myself as well as my friends feel that campus will be more dangerous,” Cavin said.

Some teachers even feel that the idea of campus carry is not a great idea. Terry Bertling, Texas State University professor for example, is someone who opposes the law and wishes public universities had the same regulations as private universities on the matter.

 “I think it’s kind of nice that private universities get to opt out,” Bertling said. “As someone who teaches, I’d rather not have students who carry.”

Bertling has a similar opinion as Texas State University student Taylor Cavin.

“It doesn’t create a good environment for learning,” Bertling said. “I wish they would change the law so public universities could opt out as well."

Although most people seemed to be against the campus carry law, there were some who were either for it or neutral about it.

“In a way I kind of support it because if a school shooter were to come by it would be a lot faster for a student to react than have somebody having to come all the way over here to react,” Texas State University student Kristen Courtney said.

By Gabrielle Gibson

If there happens to be an issue the requires protection from a campus carry weapon, then that would most likely be the fastest reaction towards defending yourself or someone else in need. Although police officers do protect people in danger, they cannot always get to the scene as fast as needed.

Some students believe in allowing campus carry strictly because it is part of our rights as Americans.

 “I am for it partially but just because it’s a constitutional right under the 2^nd amendment,” Texas State University student Jesse Miara said.

Students and faculty of Texas State University both have their reasoning on whether or not the campus carry law should or should not go into effect. Whether that reason is safety or even their right as a citizen, everyone has different views. If they choose to not be in favor it won’t really make a difference due to the fact that the law has already passed.