CONWAY, Ark. — In a 5-1 vote, the University of Central Arkansas’ (UCA) Board of Trustees opted out of an Arkansas state law that allows faculty or staff members with a concealed-carry permit to carry their weapons on campus.
UCA is the first four-year college in the state to opt out of the law, which was co-sponsored by State Rep. Mark Lowery (R-Maumelle), a UCA faculty member, the Associated Press reports. Lowery maintains that the law makes campuses safer for students, and hopes the board will reconsider its stance in 2014.
However, UCA President Tom Courtway and campus Police Chief Larry James, stated that they believe that the campus community is very safe and stressed that only law enforcement should have weapons on campus.
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