In light of the kerfuffle surrounding concealed carry, the University of Colorado has posted a page on their website: 14 Basic Questions on concealed carry at CU-Boulder. Most of it is, indeed, basic. Have a permit, don’t brandish, return your tray tables to their original upright and locked position, that sort of thing. And then there’s the bit where CU addresses the question from the perspective of an employee, one of whom (Professor Jerry Peterson) said he’d turf any student who dared carry in his class. “Can a student who legally possesses a concealed handgun be excluded from the classroom on the grounds that the student’s presence and his or her concealed weapon constitutes a class disruption?” Just in case you missed it yesterday . . .
No. The mere act of carrying a handgun (with a concealed carry permit as authorized by law) is not in and of itself a disruption of class activity. Concealed carry permit holders should not be excluded from class under any supposition that their presence alone is a “disruption.” Another person’s adverse reaction to someone carrying a handgun in accordance with the concealed carry act is not grounds to eject the permit-holder from the classroom.
Clear? If not the University has made it clearerer [sic]:
Q | Can faculty ask a student who holds a concealed carry permit to report that status to them?
While faculty can ask a student who has a concealed carry weapon permit to report that status to them, or place in a course syllabus the request that students report this status to them, students are not required to provide this information to any faculty member. Any voluntary reporting of concealed carry permit status by a student to a faculty member should be done privately. Faculty should not, under any circumstances, coerce students into complying with their requests or pressure them to answer concealed carry queries.
If you wish to place something related to this in your course syllabus, below is some suggested language:
“Concealed carry of firearms is permitted under Colorado law if you have a concealed carry permit. I would appreciate it if you would let me know this privately during the first week of class. You have my assurance that your concealed carry status will be kept confidential, and it will in no way affect your grade or evaluation as a student. I recognize you are under no obligation to supply me with this information.”
What are the odds that Professor Peterson will add that bit to his syllabus?