VCU’s prohibition of concealed
weapons on campus was
the focus of a student debate
Wednesday in the Commons
Plaza.
Three students, Jay Forehand,
Russell Altizer and Jonathan
Cencich, debated on the panel
in favor of allowing concealed
weapons on campus.
“At the end of the day, we all
want to be safe,” Forehand said.
“Are we responsible enough to
protect ourselves or do we have
to rely on others? . We feel that
relying on ourselves is the best
chance to protect ourselves.
“Unfortunately, the university
disagrees with me and the
state,” Forehand said. “I am not
prepared to trust the university
with my safety.”
VCU is the only public school
in the state that does not allow
licensed, concealed firearms on
campus, according to the panel.
According to VCU Rules and
Proceedures, the weapons policy
prohibits staff and students from
carrying any type of weapon or
firearm, including concealed
weapons. This extends not only
to students, but anyone visiting
VCU’s Monroe Park and MCV
campuses.
Those on the opposing side,
who upheld VCU’s current
regulations that students should
not be allowed to carry concealed
weapons, consisted of Emad
Maghsoudi, student body vice
president, and students Jeff
Lassahn and Michael Gilbert,
both representing the student
organization International Students
for Social Equality.
“The United States is not a
democracy,” Maghsoudi said,
“but it is a constitutional republic.
The truth is Virginia has
given the university the choice
(of whether to allow concealed
weapons or not) . depending
on their location.” Forehand said
he disagreed.
“We are in an urban environment
. we have to walk from the
parking deck to class,” Forehand
said. “That’s why there is a need
(for concealed weapons).”
Speaking in favor of on-campus
guns, Cencich said VCU’s
regulations about on-campus
weapons make it difficult for
students and non-students to
figure out exactly where the
campus begins or ends.
“(The campuses are) especially
large, and (it’s) hard to
figure out if you are on or off
campus, especially for non-VCU
people,” Cenchich said.
As the students debated the
topics, Kevin Allison, associate
dean of community activities for
the College of Humanities and
Science, moderated responses
and time limits. Allison opened
the floor for students to ask
questions, and the mood seethed
with controversy.
“How long are you willing to
wait for VCU Police to answer
(your call for help)?” said Matthew
Schaefer, a maintenance engineer
for MCV, who approached
the panel. “One Mississippi, two
Mississippi, three Mississippi,
four Mississippi,” he said, raising
his voice for emphasis and
continuing to count to eight.
Jessica Lee, Monroe Park
Campus student body president,
who was assisting with
the debate, reached for the
microphone, but Schaefer walked
away, continuing to talk amid
instructions from Allison to stop
speaking.
Schaefer was eventually
seated. After all the disruption,
Maghsoudi deferred not to
answer the question, saying he
was scared Schaefer was legally
allowed to carry a concealed
weapon, amid laughter from
the crowd.
Altizer, an advertising major
speaking in favor of on-campus
guns, said he has a T-shirt that
says, “I carry a gun because I
cannot carry a police officer.
“It does not take a while to get
mugged or (to get shot),” Altizer
said, “but it does take a while for
the police to respond.”
Another attendee, a female
student who said she has a 4-
year-old child and a concealed
weapons license, said she has
tried relying on VCU Escort
Services late at night, but last
time she used the service, it took
almost an hour for someone to
arrive. The student also said she
and her friends were recently
attacked at midnight and called
the VCU Police but never saw
them.
“The law means nothing
when my life is on the line,”
she said.
“This is a very personal issue.
This is a very emotional issue,”
Maghsoudi said in response. He
said more governmental control
is necessary instead of allowing
students to carry guns.
About 50 students attended
the debate, each attending for
various reasons.
“It’s an interesting debate
. post-Virginia Tech. This is
a big issue around campus,”
said Bryan Galloway, a junior
studying homeland security and
emergency preparedness.
Galloway said not allowing
individuals to carry weapons on
campus “may be an ill-advised
decision,” in the wake of the
Virginia Tech shootings.
Before the debate ended, Allison
gave each side three minutes
for a closing statement.
“We firmly believe the way
to address these issues is to
address the social causes,” Jeff
Lassahn said.
“The problem is not solved by
taking guns out of the equation,”
Althizer said.