Official Statement: University to ‘Opt Out’ of ‘Campus Carry’
Date published: March 10, 2016
The University of Dallas announced today that it will continue its current policy of prohibiting weapons on campus and has notified students, faculty and staff that
it will opt out of Texas Senate Bill 11. The “Campus Carry Bill,” which was passed
by the Texas Legislature last spring, signed by the governor in June and becomes effective
Aug. 1, includes a provision allowing private universities to opt out after consulting with
students, faculty and staff.
“Because the safety of University of Dallas faculty, staff and students is my highest
priority, I have decided, with Board of Trustees support, to continue our current
weapons policy by opting out of the ‘campus carry’ legislation,” said President Thomas
W. Keefe. “My decision, which will maintain a gun-free campus, was based on a significant
amount of thoughtful feedback from the most affected internal constituents. I especially
would like to acknowledge the efforts of Student Government and the Faculty Senate
for the integral role each organization played in helping the institution weigh the
risks and benefits of this decision.”
As prescribed in Senate Bill 11, the University of Dallas recently completed a consultation
process with the university community to gather student, faculty and staff input.
The decision places the university among the vast majority of other private colleges
and universities in Texas opting out of Campus Carry.