In response to the recent article, “GV revises rules about pepper spray on campus,” we would like to make clear the official stance of the Grand Valley State University Student Senate. We are absolutely opposed to any changes to existing campus regulations that would allow members of our campus community who are not law-enforcement officers to carry guns. We applaud Ben Soltis’s work efforts as a Senator in raising the issue of personal mace on-campus. Many students feel safer when they are able to carry this substance. We are happy that Ben’s persistence has led to that change.

However, in pushing for guns to be allowed on campus, Ben Soltis is acting simply as a student with an opinion. He does not have the backing of the Student Senate. We were pleased to see, in the editorial, “Grades over guns,” that the Lanthorn agrees with the Senate’s current position.

We are grateful that the administration at Grand Valley continues to exercise its right under Michigan law to ban the possession of firearms by non-law enforcement members on our campuses. A college campus is no place for guns. The Student Senate is not challenging this longstanding policy. Rather, we enthusiastically support it.

Respectfully,

The Student Senate Cabinet