October 5, 2015

The American Educational Research Association and the Association for the Study of Higher Education extend their deepest condolences to the families of the 10 victims of the shooting at Umpqua Community College and to the entire campus community. As organizations committed to the nurturing of students and the betterment of society, we are saddened by yet another senseless loss of lives in a learning environment. Of all societal settings, the classroom, whether it is in an elementary school or on a college campus, should be the safest and most embracing space, and a haven from the violence that too often afflicts the country.

We call on the education research community to further commit itself to expanding the body of research on school safety and climate at the K-12 level and extending it to higher education. Developing and promoting research-based programs and policies to reduce the risk of violence on college campuses also needs to be a major focus of education research. To foster the advancement of this research agenda, AERA and ASHE will convene a special joint forum at the AERA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., in April 2016. We recognize our responsibility to educate diverse publics in ways that can truly reduce violence in society.

About AERA
The American Educational Research Association (AERA) is the largest national professional organization devoted to the scientific study of education. Founded in 1916, AERA advances knowledge about education, encourages scholarly inquiry related to education, and promotes the use of research to improve education and serve the public good. Find AERA on Facebook and Twitter.

About ASHE
The Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) is a scholarly society with about 2,000 members dedicated to higher education as a field of study. ASHE promotes collaboration among its members and others engaged in the study of higher education through research, conferences, and publications, including its highly regarded journal, The Review of Higher Education.

Contact:
Tony Pals, AERA
Victoria Oms, AERA
Kim Nehls, ASHE

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A.R. 30
In Opposition to Campus Carry at The University of Texas at Austin

Authors: Mr. Tanner Long (Representative, College of Liberal Arts), Mr. Jamie Nalley (Chair, Student Affairs Committee), Mr. Taral Patel (Representative, University Wide), Mr. John Brown (Director, State Relations Agency), Mr. Kori Rady (President, Student Body) and Nicole Kruijs (Abbott, Friar Society)

Sponsors: Mr. Austin Ferguson (Representative, College of Fine Arts), Mr. Tanner Long (Representative, College of Liberal Arts), Mr. Jamie Nalley (Chair, Student Affairs Committee) Mr. Taral Patel (Representative, University Wide) and Mr. Santiago Rosales (Representative, First Year)

WHEREAS, Student Government serves as the official voice of students at the University of Texas at Austin; and,

WHEREAS, This resolution represents the voice of students at The University of Texas at Austin, but it does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The University of Texas at Austin or The University of Texas System; and,

WHEREAS, Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college-aged individuals; and,

WHEREAS, “Over half of college students reported some form of suicidal thinking in their lives” and 18% of undergraduates and 15% of graduate students have seriously considered attempting suicide; and,

WHEREAS,  “Findings also suggest that the presence of a gun in the home increases the chance that a homicide or suicide in the home will be committed with a firearm rather than by using other means”; and,

WHEREAS, In the event of a campus shooting, authorities might have trouble distinguishing between those with a drawn weapon acting in self-defense and the bad actor with a drawn weapon acting with malicious intent5; and,

WHEREAS, University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven, Admiral and ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command in the United States Navy, has stated, “I feel the presence of concealed weapons will make a campus a less-safe environment”; and,

WHEREAS, Chancellor McRaven further states “there is great concern that the presence of handguns, even if limited to licensed individuals age 21 or older, will lead to an increase in both accidental shootings and self-inflicted wounds”; and therefore,

WHEREAS, Former University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa has stated, “parents, students, faculty, staff, administrators and institutional law enforcement officers have all expressed concerns that that the presence of concealed handguns on our campuses will make the campus environment less safe”; and therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, The University of Texas at Austin Student Government opposes any actions pursued by the legislature to legally allow non law enforcement officials the ability to possess concealed handguns on our campus; and therefore,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Campus carry would generate several new issues for The University of Texas at Austin Police Department such as having to deal with handgun thefts on campus, the potential increase in handgun-related deaths and the lack of law enforcement training of students potentially acting in self-defense with a firearm in the event of a campus shooting; and therefore,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The potential issues mentioned above could be avoided by continuing to outlaw concealed handguns on college campuses; and therefore,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to Mr. William McRaven, Chancellor of The University of Texas System; Mr. Paul L. Foster, Chairman of The University of Texas System Board of Regents; Mr. William Powers, President of The University of Texas at Austin; Mr. Greg Abbott, Governor of the State of Texas; Mr. Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Texas; Mr. Joe Straus, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives; Mr. Kirk Watson, Texas State Senator for District 14; Mrs. Joan Huffman, Chair of the Senate Committee on State Affairs and Mr. Elliott Naishtat, Texas State Representative for District 49.

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The faculty, staff, and Emeriti of Department of English at the University of Texas at Austin strongly oppose the “campus carry” bill, Senate Bill 11. We believe that the presence of guns in classrooms, dormitories, and faculty offices is not only unsafe but will inhibit the free exchange of ideas and viewpoints that is integral to a university. The Texas Constitution mandates a “University of the first class,” but this law will damage our ability to recruit and retain the best students and faculty from across Texas, the nation, and the world. Continue reading The English Department on Campus Carry →

Department of Anthropology Faculty
Statement on Pending Campus Carry Law and its Implementation

October 15, 2015

Anthropologists study human cultural and biological variation and the impact of such variation on behavior and society. Our research and pedagogy challenges our students and the public to engage actively and openly with sometimes controversial ideas concerning race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, inequality, religion, evolution, and other topics. To do so demands an environment where issues can be discussed freely, without fear of threat, intimidation, or violence.

Thus, we, the undersigned faculty members of the Department of Anthropology at UT Austin, are compelled to comment on the campus carry law, SB11, and its proposed implementation, which could allow Concealed Handgun License holders to bring guns into our classrooms, offices, laboratories, dormitories, student unions, and other buildings.

In our view, the risks associated with permitting concealed guns to be taken into campus buildings – particularly into spaces of learning where freedom of speech and expression without the threat of violence is critical – overwhelmingly outweigh the benefits. Our students and faculty – like many across campus – have told us that they will not be comfortable teaching about or discussing controversial subjects if they think there might be a gun in the room. The possible presence of concealed guns in campus buildings will create an environment of fear, which inhibits learning and effective teaching, and will have a chilling effect on free speech, open dialog, and academic freedom. We believe that such an atmosphere would be hugely detrimental to the university’s ability to fulfill its mission.

Moreover, as our colleagues in other social science departments have noted, there is no compelling evidence that the presence of concealed guns on campus will promote student safety, and ample reason to believe that it will lead to harm. We strenuously object to this law, and we urge the Task Force and the university administration to make the strongest possible case for excluding concealed guns from campus buildings. Continue reading Anthropology – Statement on Pending Campus Carry Law →

The Latin American Studies Association joins the American Political Science Association (APSA) in its deep concern about the impact of of Texas’s new Campus Carry law on freedom of expression in Texas universities. The law, which was passed earlier this year and takes effect in 2016, allows licensed handgun carriers to bring concealed handguns into buildings on Texas campuses.  LASA stands with APSA in its concern that the Campus Carry law and similar laws in other states might introduce serious safety threats on college campuses with a resulting harmful effect on professors and students and the free expression of ideas.

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We, the faculty, graduate students, and staff members of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese oppose the presence of concealed firearms in our classrooms, offices and social spaces. We strongly believe that concealed guns should not be allowed in any building, or on the perimeters of the campus of the University of Texas, Austin. We further believe that our main goal as a public Research One institution is the fostering of education, critical thinking, and professionalization of students. As an intellectual community, we simply reject the premise that guns will make our classrooms, offices, and social spaces safer.

In the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, our main goal is to educate and train our students to develop new knowledge about the languages, literatures and cultures of the Iberian and Latin American regions, their related diasporas, and their Indigenous, African, and Asian cultures. We would like to continue doing so in an atmosphere of mutual respect and without the threat posed by guns in our classrooms. As a racially, culturally, ethnically, and sexually diverse department, we are aware of the social-power dynamics behind gun culture and the potentially disruptive and dangerous state of affairs the law allowing concealed weapons in campus buildings will bring to our courses, pedagogies, freedom of speech and finally, our security and lives. Continue reading Statement from The Department of Spanish and Portuguese →

Department of Psychology Faculty
Statement on Pending Campus Carry Law
October 11, 2015

Psychologists study the determinants of human behavior, including causes of, and responses to, violent behavior.  Thus, we, the undersigned faculty members of the Department of Psychology at UT-Austin, feel it is important for us to comment on the pending campus carry law.  In our view, there is no reasonable justification for permitting concealed guns to be taken into campus buildings. There is no empirical evidence whatsoever that the presence of concealed guns on campus will promote student safety, and ample reason to believe that it will lead to harm. Shootings give rise to situations marked by panic, confusion, and terror, conditions under which judgment, especially among individuals who are untrained and inexperienced in such situations, is impaired. Because we are personally and professionally committed to promoting the physical and mental wellbeing of children, adolescents, and adults, we strenuously object to this law and to the presence of concealed guns in campus buildings. Continue reading Psychology Faculty Statement on Campus Carry →