Students Face Unfair Expulsion

By Vicky Florian ’14

In Washington State, two Gonzaga University students were living in an off-campus apartment, owned by the school, when one night a man came to their door demanding money. The man was a convicted felon and became frustrated as the students refused to pay. Feeling threatened as the man attempted to enter the apartment, one student retrieved his hand gun causing the convict to flee the scene. The students called the police immediately afterward, following all necessary safety procedures. The pistol was never fired, and no one was harmed, yet the students are facing possible expulsion for having a weapon on school property.

 Had the students not had the weapon, the story could have gone vastly different. By using the handgun for self-defense but without unnecessarily shooting it, the student allowed him and his roommate to walk away from the incident with all of their belongings and their safety. College is supposed to be training kids for the outside world. Why should these two responsible students be punished for handling a tense and dangerous situation effectively and safely?