Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

U. Nebraska regents pass weapons ban policy
By Laura Chapman
Daily Nebraskan (U. Nebraska)
01/22/2007

(U-WIRE) LINCOLN, Neb. — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved a policy prohibiting the possession of concealed weapons on university property during their meeting on Friday.

The policy came in response to a bill enacted by the Nebraska Legislature in April 2006, which allows citizens to carry a concealed firearm as long as they have gone through the necessary precautions, such as training.

Certain locations are exempt from this law, including schools, but Attorney General Jon Bruning said NU was not covered in that definition.

NU President J.B. Milliken said while concealed weapons have never been allowed on university property, "(the policy) is necessary by our legal advisers."

Regent Kent Schroeder of Kearney and Alex Williams, the student regent for the University of Nebraska at Omaha, did not vote for the resolution.

Schroeder said he agreed that concealed weapons should not be allowed on university property, but he thought it was unnecessary for the board to address the issue because he thought Bruning should have included the university in the same category as other schools.

Also during the meeting, the regents approved a resolution giving their support to the establishment of a Northeast Division of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing as long as an agreement could be reached between all of the collaborating parties.

This includes finding sufficient private funds to help finance the project so NU would not have to take on the entire financial burden.

"You don't want to stop funding other programs," Milliken said.

Also during the meeting, Regent Charles Wilson of Lincoln was elected chairman of the board. Regent Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons was elected as vice-chairman.

As a response to a number of fires that occurred in greek houses during the fall semester, Wilson said he would like NU to look into fire safety in student residences.

"We need to address the issue as it relates to housing ... and greek systems," Wilson said.

NU was investigating the issue of fire safety and would report its findings at a later date, Milliken said.

The next NU Board of Regents meeting will be March 9 at 1 p.m. in Varner Hall.

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