Crime & Safety

Some Faculty Oppose URI Move to Arm Campus Cops

School officials said they made the decision after a gun scare last year.

A contingent of University of Rhode Island professors opposes a decision to arm campus police officers.

School officials made the decision after an incident last year where an individual was reported to be armed inside the Chafee Social Science Center. It turned out to be a false alarm; no gun was found.

The university said its unarmed police officers responded to the scene within 40 seconds but had to wait outside for five minutes until armed South Kingstown police officers arrived.  

"While we do not expect all members of the community to be in favor of this decision, it is time to recognize that there is no school, college or university that can consider itself immune to threats or violence," said Christina Valentino, vice president for administration and finance, in a statement.

URI's faculty senate last year voted to keep the campus free of guns, according to the Associated Press. The American Association of University Professors, which represents URI faculty, said it will meet Monday to discuss a vote opposing the the gun program.


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