Students at Bowling Green State University have issued a call to action in the wake of two gun related incidents in the past week.
The call was included in a cache of statements written by students, alumni, and community members, and issued by one of the organizers Eishat Ahmed.
On Sunday, April 18, Daniel Patrick Seymour was charged with inducing panic after alleging waving a hand gun while on campus. Two days later, two men carrying rifles walked through campus. The first event prompted a shelter in place order that lasted about 30 minutes; the second incident resulted in no notification to the community, though campus police spoke to and monitored the two individuals.
The call to action, which was released earlier this week by a group of students, said “the response given by Bowling Green State University is deplorable and cowardly. It does not adequately address the community’s concerns, clarify the withstanding policy, or make anyone feel like this is a safe place to live.”
The call to action seeks a town hall meeting in the student union attended by BGSU President Rodney Rodgers, Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, BGSU Chief of Police Michael Campbell, and Deputy Chief of Police John Betori.
Further it calls for: “A public press release must be issued acknowledging BGSU’s violation of their own policy. This statement must clearly reiterate the campus policy for open and concealed carry, and outline any and all possible exceptions.”
The authors of the essays expressed a sense of frustration at the university’s actions, and a feeling that they are unsafe on campus.
Rogers issued a statement on Tuesday responding to the incident. In it, he stated, that: “While concealing a firearm on campus is a violation of our policy and Ohio Revised Code, today’s activity involving open carry is not unlawful.”
Rogers also expressed regret that the university did not inform the community about the planned event beforehand. “In navigating this situation, we fell short in communicating with our community. As president, I am ultimately responsible, and I regret we did not communicate with you directly ahead of this activity.”
Sean Blakesley in a letter to Rogers included in the collection of statements wrote: “I, along with many of my fellow community members, are demanding that BGSU utilizes the BG Alert system for any known demonstrations that exist on your campus. This includes, but is not limited to, armed protests, traveling religious speakers who ostracize your students, and pro-life demonstrators who show graphic and traumatizing media in the center of your campus. We demand that you publicly commit to this initiative and implement it into university policy, immediately.”
A request for comment from the university was made late Friday afternoon. No response was immediately forthcoming.
