University of Idaho Faculty Senate members are moving quickly to generate an official opinion to deliver to Idaho lawmakers regarding the proposed legislation that would allow the concealed carry of firearms on college campuses across Idaho. “If we’re going to do anything we need to act quickly, because they will be voting (Wednesday) and if we wait until our next senate meeting, it might be too late to have any impact, and I’m sure they’re waiting for our part,” said Trish Hartzell, UI Faculty Senate chair.
Senate Bill 1254 was proposed to the legislature last month and — if passed — would allow retired law enforcement officials and adults 21 or older with proper licensing to carry concealed firearms on the UI campus. Hartzell said a comparable piece of legislation was introduced a few years ago, so it’s not the first time faculty senate has looked at the issue.
“One of the things that we would like to do is have the senate weigh in on this with a resolution,” Hartzell said. “Both senate and staff affairs passed resolutions in 2011 when a similar bill came up and we have some existing material we could resurrect.”
Interim Provost Kathy Aiken said if the faculty senate can put together a resolution in time, it would be taken in to account by President Don Burnett when he testifies in opposition to the legislation on Wednesday.
“It is the case that all eight of the Idaho institutional presidents have come out in opposition to Senate Bill 1254, the State Board of Education University of Idaho Regents voted 6-0 in opposition to Senate Bill 1254 and that President Burnett will be present to testify in opposition to Senate Bill 1254 on Feb. 12. So, that’s why it’s important for this body — and I’ve asked the same of staff affairs — to form an opinion on the issue,” Aiken said.
Aiken also said the debate is a heartfelt one, and asked members of the faculty senate to be aware of the dividing line between personal opinions and professional ones.
“This is a really emotional issue, so it’s important that we separate our personal testimony and any input that we would give to members of the Idaho Legislature from our roles as University of Idaho employees and officials,” Aiken said. “There are pretty clear lines about how that takes place in terms of testifying, especially before the senate committee, which anybody sitting here, or any student or anybody can certainly go and do and we encourage them to do that — regardless of their opinion. But, we do want to make clear that when one does, that they are doing it as an individual and not in another capacity.”
Faculty senate members Kenton Bird and Stephen Flores took a leadership role to produce a resolution in time for Burnett’s testimony next week. The resolution will then be voted on by faculty senate via email and if supported, will go on to the state Capitol with Burnett.
Aiken said the argument Burnett will bring to the legislature is not one of substance, but of regulation.
“It is an excitedly difficult issue and I believe the argument the University of Idaho will make — that the other presidents of the institutions are making and that the State Board of Education is making — is not really an argument so much related to the issue of guns on campus, but rather a local control argument,” Aiken said. “That the State Board of Education and local campuses should have the ability to make decisions on this topic and have done so effectively and there’s not reason for the Idaho Legislature to feel that they need to be in this issue.”
Amber Emery can be reached at [email protected]