Weapons On Campus

(SMSU Policy G-008)

Minnesota State Law (Minnesota Statute 624.714) Carrying of weapons without permit; penalties.

Policy
No student shall carry or possess any prohibited weapon on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed in or on Southwest Minnesota State University owned or leased buildings, grounds, and other facilities, with the exception of firearms possessed or carried in parking areas. No employee acting within the scope of their employment with the University, including student employees and employees or organizations utilizing University facilities, shall carry or possess any prohibited weapon on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed in or on Southwest Minnesota State University owned or leased buildings, grounds, and other facilities with the exception of firearms possessed or carried in parking areas. No other individual shall carry or possess any prohibited weapon, except firearms, on or about his or her person whether visible or concealed in or on Southwest Minnesota State University owned or leased buildings, grounds, and other facilities. No vehicle owned, leased, or otherwise under the control of the University shall be used to store or carry a firearm.

Definitions
For the purpose of this policy a weapon is defined as any instrument, article, or substance, which is specifically designed for and presently capable of causing death, incapacitation, or serious physical injury. This includes but is not limited to firearms, replicate firearms, as defined by Minn. Statute 609.713, firearms ammunition, explosive devices (both incendiary and chemical), fireworks, knives having a blade that swings into position by force of a spring or centrifugal force (commonly known as switch blades), and knives (other than pocket knives) with blades longer than three and one-half inches, metal knuckles, straight razors, blackjacks, saps, sap gloves, koshers, bludgeons, martial arts stars, and weapons of the type known as nunchakus.

Procedures:
Anyone who observes someone violating this policy must immediately report the incident to University Public Safety by dialing 7252. If there is any appearance of threat of imminent harm of any type, contact local law enforcement (911) prior to contacting University Public Safety.

Sanctions
Violation of this policy by University students, faculty, and staff will be considered as misconduct subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, and/or other sanctions in accordance with federal, state, local, MNSCU, and/or University laws, regulations, policies and/or procedures. Violation of this policy by members of the public shall result in ejection from the property and/or confiscation of the weapon or dangerous instrument carried or possessed. The University also reserves the right to refer any violation of this policy to appropriate law enforcement agencies to investigate for possible violation of applicable laws.

Southwest Minnesota State University Policy

Southwest Minnesota State University will work to provide a safe workplace for employees, students, and visitors to the University. The University will not tolerate workplace or campus violence. This includes threatening or violent actions by employees directed against other employees, students, or visitors, and by students directed against other students, employees, or visitors or by campus visitors directed against students, employees, or other visitors.

The University through its policy and plan is committed to the following:

• The University will actively work to prevent and eliminate acts of work or campus violence. It is the responsibility of its managers, supervisors, and all of its employees to achieve a workplace free from threats and acts of violence. The University will respond promptly, positively, and aggressively to deal with threats or acts of violence. This response will include timely involvement of law enforcement of agencies, when appropriate.
• The University hereby adopts, and will work to enforce, a policy prohibiting possession of firearms and other dangerous weapons in the workplace or on campus. Exceptions will be authorized by the Director of University Public Safety.
• Incidents of work-related or campus threats or acts of violence will be treated seriously by the University. Reports of such acts will be promptly investigated, and management will take action, as necessary, to appropriately address each incident.
• The University will develop a reporting and response process to be implemented, and training to insure that all employees know how to use the reporting process.
• The University will take strong disciplinary action, up to and including discharge from State employment, against employees of the University who are involved in the commission of work-related threats or acts of violence. Students engaging in such behavior will be dealt with in accordance with the student code of conduct and the University Community Expectations Program.
• The University will report to the local authorities any incident involving those who threaten or commit work-related violence against its employees, students, and visitors to the campus environment and will cooperate with authorities in investigation of those incidents.
  • Pursuant to Minnesota Statute 15.86, this policy does not create any civil liability on the part of the State of Minnesota.