By Michael Mandigo, Staff Writer
Susquehanna’s Diversity Council held a meeting Feb. 7, to discuss the university’s new Public Safety gun policy and allow student’s opinions to be acknowledged.
The meeting was set to re-open the gun topic discussed in the last meeting at the end of the fall semester.
The students presented the Diversity Council and Susan Lantz with ideas so that their voices and concerns could be taken into consideration regarding the gun policy.
Some of the ideas included students sitting in on the training of Public Safety officers, more timely and frequent updates from the Student Life Office when incidents are reported, a panel of students of color, a mediated conversation between students of color and Public Safety, as well receiving access to incident reports.
The main concern of the students at the meeting was that the information regarding the new gun policy was very vague for the students.
The consensus that was reached in the last meeting was that it was disrespectful for the school to announce the change right before finals week as the students did not have a sufficient opportunity to respond.
Another issue that the students had at the previous meeting was the threat to minority students and how they could be assured that racial profiling would not occur on campus by Public Safety.
Sophomore Abigail Antoine, one of the organizers of the diversity council said, “Telling students right before finals week was not the best move…It’s our school just as much as the faculty.”
Susan Lantz, vice president of student life was present to inform those who had attended the meeting and was open to advice given by those same students and faculty.
“I’ve heard the issues presented by the students, but I’ve also heard the fear of students and it has impacted my choices and work,” Lantz said.
These choices include Lantz accepting some of the ideas proposed by students.
Now, the Student Safety Council will have two student voices; one of whom will be Antoine.
The school will also have an updated use of force policy which will outline the procedures taken if a gun is upholstered or fired, as well as more intensive and continuous training for Public Safety officers such as implicit bias training.
According to Lantz, all Public Safety officers will carry business cards to hopefully foster the relationship between them and students.
Lantz also discussed an overview of the cameras and lighting on campus to ensure less vulnerable areas and the use of body cameras for Public Safety officers.
Lantz said that she has appreciated the feedback from the faculty and the students.
