Concealed carry on campus could soon be a topic of discussion for Ohio University’s Board of Trustees after Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 48 into law last month.
That bill will become effective as law in March and will grant Ohio universities’ governing bodies the opportunity to decide whether to allow concealed carry on campus.
“(The) current policy is that we have a weapons-free campus,” Katherine Hartman, OU Faculty Senate secretary, said. “The House Bill 48 resolution and Senate Bill 199 resolution change that law that allows Boards of Trustees to decide if they will permit concealed carry for people with concealed carry licenses on colleges and university campuses.”
The Board of Trustees has a meeting Jan. 19 and Jan. 20 and is expected to discuss OU’s weapons policy.
“Ohio University leadership … will be gathering input from the University community to share with our Board of Trustees. We understand that this is a very important decision,” OU Spokesman Dan Pittman said in an email. “Prior to moving forward, we will implement a thorough and inclusive process.”
The Board of Trustees has an option to consider the state policy, but there is nothing in the law that requires them to discuss it and have a vote, Joe McLaughlin, chair of Faculty Senate, said.
“Now, if the trustees do decide that they want to have a deliberation about this in order to make a decision, then I think Faculty Senate is going to get very involved in whatever information gathering the university decides it needs to do, whether that’s holding open forum or putting out some kind of survey,” McLaughlin said. “We will certainly be involved in that process, if it happens.”
At Faculty Senate’s meeting on Monday, the executive committee passed a “sense of the senate,” which urges the Board of Trustees to take no action and affirm Ohio University’s commitment to a weapon free campus.
McLaughlin said after gathering consensus with colleagues, the Faculty Senate executive committee wants to make an immediate and firm statement that the majority of faculty are not in favor of concealed carry. Students’ opinions regarding concealed carry are less uniform.
“I feel like concealed carry should only be (allowed on campus) for teachers and professors on campus. It’s unsafe for all to have it,” Holly Meese, a junior studying communication science and disorders, said.
Some students are in favor of a change to the weapon policy. Sabrina Neimeister, a senior studying psychology, sociology and criminology, said evaluations of mental ability for gun licenses are critical to make sure gun owners understand the risks and benefits of having a concealed weapon and what that means for themselves and others.
House Bill 48 was introduced as an amendment to Senate Bill 199 late in the legislative process, Ohio Sen. Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, said.
Gardner, who sponsored Senate Bill 199, said in an email he expects very few, if any, colleges or universities will vote to allow Concealed Carry Weapons permit holders to carry on their campuses.
The boards of trustees at Ohio State University and Kent State University are not considering changes in policy that prohibit concealed firearms on campus, according to statements from each university.
The University of Cincinnati has not yet affirmed a position on the concealed carry law, Greg Vehr, vice president for governmental relations and university communication, said.
At Ohio University, Hartman said the expectation is that most faculty members would prefer the campus to stay weapon free, and the senate's resolution focuses on that idea.
“Some faculty feel it’s about safety in the workplace because this is our workplace," Hartman said. "Some people’s opinions are about maintaining a safe environment for open discussion."
