Weapons Policy Amended

By Terry Christiansen · The Mainstream
Published October 19, 2011

Oregon colleges and universities, including UCC, can no longer prevent students with concealed weapons permits from bringing their weapons onto campus property, due to a recent Oregon Appellate court ruling.  The Oregon Firearms Educational Foundation brought the case to the Appellate Court on behalf of a Western Oregon University student after WOU suspended the student for packing a handgun, even though he had a permit.

The current UCC policy for both students and staff is that “possession, use or threatened use of firearms (including but not limited to BB guns, air guns, water pistols, and paint guns), ammunition, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or any other objects as weapons on college property, except as expressly authorized by law or college regulations, is prohibited.”  The policy can be found on UCC’s website under Quick Links (select “Security” and then “Dangerous Devices”).

Although there are printed versions of the policy for both students and staff, the one that can be found on UCC’s web site under Quick Links is the most current.

The policy means that only students, staff or visitors with a permit would be allowed to carry a firearm on campus.  Safety, Security and Custodial Services Director Steve Buchko states these permits are not easily obtained and are subject to vigorous background checks.  Anyone with prior convictions or a violent background is not going to be able to obtain a permit.

Campus security does not carry firearms at this time, but with the new appellate finding things could change, “It depends on what the future holds,” says Buchko “it is not a decision made by myself, it would be a decision made by the board.  I don’t know, we will monitor it and see how things go.”

UCC, like most other colleges has an open policy as far as allowing citizens convicted of prior offenses to pursue a higher education.  Buchko insists that UCC’s security department is trained and prepared to not only deal with situations related to this policy but also to “every contingency.”

Buchko states, “The best thing a student can do if there is a problem or even a suspicion of a problem is to call security before acting out on your own.  We are here twenty four seven; no call is stupid or insignificant.”

Students can call 777 from any phone on campus in an emergency, or 541-440- 7777 if dialing from a cell phone.

“We have one of the safest environments at UCC than any other community college in the state,” Buchko says.