Problems Statement
Safety issues continue to evolve and rise on higher
institutional campuses and leaders are tasked with developing and implementing ways
to address such issues.
Statement of the Problem
Higher educational institutions have a responsibility to
provide safety measures to students while on campus (Clery Center, 2017). As
safety issues arise and are identified, institutions are required by federal
regulations to disclose such issues to current and prospective students (McNeal,
2006). More specifically, the Clery Act,
mandates institutions, that partake in federal funding, to provide statistical
data to stakeholders annually on criminal issues that have occurred on campuses,
with the inclusion of ways in which to improve such issues (Clery Center, 2017). Gun
violence, sexual assaults, and alcohol-related crimes have been identified as
continuous issues associated with reported incidents linked to college students
while on campus (Dameron, Detardo-Bora, & Bora, 2009). Other issues surrounding
the Clery Act are added as technology advances and crime progresses, which
prompts the enhancements of dated laws to create newer laws, such as the
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Myers, Nelson, & Forke,
2016). Therefore, institutions have addressed such issues in various ways to
include providing knowledge and awareness about the issues, incorporating
crisis preparedness plans, and combating certain laws related to concealed
weapons permitted on campus (Patten, Thomas, & Wada, 2013).
More specifically,
a firearm-related study, consisting of police chiefs of college campuses, who
are tasked with providing safety on campus, demonstrated that 25% had been met
with a gun-related incident on campus within the time frame of a year (Thompson,
Price, Mrdjenovich, & Khubchandani, 2009). The controversy of allowing or
banning concealed weapons on college campuses has been an ongoing debate as
there are increased reports of suicides and mass shootings on college campuses
(Thompson et. al, 2009). According to Hope (2015), many leaders of higher
institutions are against concealed weapons being carried on campus as a way of
protection. Despite the argument over constitutional rights and the wants of
students regarding their safety, the argument of allowing concealed weapons on
campus continues to gain controversy. A study conducted by Patten, Thomas, and
Wada (2013), utilizing surveys to collect data, indicated that 70% of students
and faculty felt unsafe and therefore did not want concealed firearms allowed
on campus.
References
Clery Center, (2017). At the heart of campus safety. Retrieved from:
http://clerycenter.org/about-page/
Dameron, S. L., Detardo-Bora, K., & Bora, D. J.
(2009). An assessment of campus security and police information on
college/university websites. Security
Journal, 22(4), 251-268. Retrieved
from: doi:10.1057/palgrave.sj.8350082
Hope, J. (2015).
Prepare for the implications on campus of concealed carry laws. Campus Security Report 12(3), 1-5.
Retrieved from: 10.1002/casr.30062
McNeal, L. R. (2006). Clery Act: Road to compliance. Journal of Personnel
Evaluation in Education, 19(3-4),
105-113. doi: 10.1007/s11092-007-9042-7
Myers, R. K., Nelson, D. B., & Forke, C. M.
(2016). Occurrence of Stalking Victimization Among Female and Male
Undergraduate Students, Journal of
College Student Development, 57(2), 213-218. doi: 1826533795
Patten, R., Thomas, M. O., & Wada, J. C. (2013).
Packing heat: Attitudes regarding concealed weapons on college campuses. American Journal of Criminal
Justice : AJCJ, 38(4),
551-569. doi: 10.1007/s12103-012-9191-1
Thompson, A., Price, J. H, Mrdjenovich, A., &
Khubchandani, J. (2009). Reducing firearm-related violence on college
campuses-police chiefs' perceptions and practices. Journal of American College
Health, 58(3), 247-254. doi: 848215802
