My professor canceled office hours because KU allows concealed carry, says he 'no longer feels safe'

[Judi Lynn]

VICTORIA SNITSAR - UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS •AUGUST 24, 2018

My jaw dropped recently as I read the nine-page syllabus for an online history class I enrolled in for the fall semester at the University of Kansas. Two full pages of the document include arguments against the Second Amendment and chides students who support the university’s concealed carry policy or take advantage of it.

To be clear, this class is on the history of the Japanese Samurai and has nothing to do with U.S. history or the Second Amendment.

What’s more, Professor Eric Rath of the History and East Asian Studies departments also informs students in the syllabus: “With guns allowed on campus, I no longer feel safe having visitors in my office; so instead of in person office hours, I am available for consultation via email or Skype on the hours indicated above and by appointment. Should you wish to meet in person, the appointment will be at a secure or public location of my choosing, but not my office. Please read the statement about concealed weapons at the end of the syllabus.”

. . .

The two-page statement includes data that aims to paint the use of guns in a negative light, details provisos of the policy at KU that allows students and faculty to carry concealed weapons on campus, and states “I request that you not bring firearms to class or wherever I am present.”

More:
https://www.thecollegefix.com/post/48223/

At least there's one person with a conscience left in Kansas.

[lapfog_1]

1. I used to teach at KU

I would have to agree with your professor. Office hours for in person visits cancelled... if you need help call or email or text.

That would be my policy in such an insane place (that KU, sadly, has become).

[Judi Lynn]

6. There will never be an upside to guns at K.U. Unbelievable. It's a good place to avoid now. n/t

[marble falls]

11. There's just no upside for firearms possession. I've quit going to our church over it.

[fescuerescue]

2. Sounds like a terrifying place

I think I would transfer to another school.

[Judi Lynn]

7. That would be a wise move. Who needs that nonsense, and outlandish, idiotic threat every day? n/t

[greymattermom]

3. I was a professor at KU Med for 30 years.

Some of the classrooms are in the hospital, and, last I heard, they are going to allow concealed carry in the hospital. I'm so glad I retired before this started.

[Judi Lynn]

5. This is not going to end well. Had not heard this concealed carry extended to the Medical Center.

That is a place where the traffic could magnify any stupid errors beyond comprehension.

Horrible, goddawful decision.

Thank you for your comments.

[lapfog_1]

9. what years? My Brother in Law was a medical student as KU Med in the early 1970s

don't know the exact years... but say 1968 to 1970?

That was in KC Kan.. and you had to worry about the patients in the neighborhood bringing guns to the ER, as I recall.

[Girard442]

4. From the relevant Kansas law:

75-7c20. Concealed handguns in public buildings; when prohibited; public buildings exempted; definitions. (a) The carrying of a concealed handgun shall not be prohibited in any state or municipal building unless such building has adequate security measures to ensure that no weapons are permitted to be carried into such building and the building is conspicuously posted in accordance with K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 75-7c10, and amendments thereto.


http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/statute/075_000_0000_chapter/075_007c_0000_article/075_007c_0020_section/075_007c_0020_k/

Really cute how they've carved out a nice exemption that conveniently applies to the legislature and probably most state offices.

On edit: If you read way down, you see they specifically exempt the state capitol. Way to go guys. Really took a principled stand there.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Infuriating. Completely without conscience. Almost could make one sick even thinking about it.

If they can't live with their decisions themselves, why should they force them upon people who have no choice whatsoever.

Thank you for the information.

[alp227]

10. college fix is a right wing website

Like Breitbart, WND, etc.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Had no idea. I thought the student who wrote the article was just a little looney.

I posted it to highlight the professor who seemed to be exceptional, and well-balanced in an area which had been corrupted by idiots.

I won't expect to be using any articles from "College Fix" again. Hadn't heard of it until last night when I saw the article. Thanks for the info.

[sinkingfeeling]

12. I said I would retire if they allowed concealed carry on our campuses.

The GOP legislature did and I retired.

[tammywammy]

13. What would have stopped anyone before from bringing a gun to office hours?

Did they previously have metal detectors at all building entrances? If a student was upset and wanted to shoot him, being a gun free zone wouldn't have stopped that.

[friendly_iconoclast]

15. You're supposed to simply accept the moral panic mongering without asking awkward questions...

...or looking at a Kansas City Star article linked in the original article, for that matter:

https://www.kansascity.com/news/article203516929.html

After concealed carry allowed on campus, KU hired more safety officers and crime fell

While the national debate over arming teachers heats up, the University of Kansas — where this year students and faculty can carry concealed weapons on campus — reports that crime there is down.

In a report released late last week, KU Public Safety officials said crime on the Lawrence campus declined 13 percent from 2016 to 2017. In the first six months of permitted concealed guns on campus, there have been no criminal weapons violations.

KU Public Safety attributes the drop in crime to steps the university took to improve campus security after the legalization of concealed carry. Three additional police officers and three security officers were hired.