A coalition of Idaho college students, faculty, and law enforcement will rally at the Capitol at 12:30 Thursday against a proposal that would allow some to carry concealed guns on university campuses.
Protesters have frequented the statehouse during this legislative session. Several large demonstrations have been held in support of gay rights, and at least one protest was against a bill to restrict the activities of animal rights activists.
What makes this anti-guns-on-campus protest different is that it's being organized - in part - by Boise State University faculty members. And they’re branding it as a walkout.
But Boise State faculty senate president Stephen Crowley wishes protest organizers hadn’t chosen to call it that.
“Teaching is what we exist to do, that’s our primary mission,” Crowley says. “I would be shocked if anyone canceled classes.”
Crowley, who teaches philosophy, says even though professors won't be walking out of their classes, he expects a lot of faculty and students to turn out for the protest. He says most instructors stand behind the state’s university and college presidents in opposing the bill that would allow people to carry concealed weapons on campuses. But Crowley knows that some faculty members support the proposal.
“It would be great if we could get this community to come to a consensus on this issue,” Crowley says. “But that’s not going to happen in the time available to us. Failing that consensus I think it’s appropriate to act on behalf of the majority, especially when I think it’s a significant majority.”
Boise State’s faculty senate passed a resolution opposing the guns on campus bill. But the bill has already passed Idaho’s senate and appears to have strong support in the house.
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