By Alexi Cohan

COLUMNIST

Sexual harassment on college campuses is a tremendous problem that unfortunately affects young adults all over the country, but allowing students to carry guns on campus in attempt to prevent sexual assault is a major mistake that should undoubtedly be avoided.

While New York currently forbids guns on college campuses, states like Idaho, Utah, Arkansas, Mississippi and Virginia allow their use. To introduce and allow guns on college campuses in order to solve this issue will only cause more danger. 

The issue of gun usage is one that is hotly debated among Americans. According to a CBS News poll taken in 2013, 49 percent of people advocate for stricter gun laws. Thirty-six percent of people think gun laws should be kept as they are, while the remaining 11 percent support less strict gun laws. But, in the case of sexual misconduct at colleges, a gun is definitely not the solution. 

One factor to consider is just how congested college campuses can be. Students are not only surrounded by others in classrooms each day, but they also live with roommates in packed residence halls, cram together in dining halls and compete for spots in a gridlocked parking lot. One can only imagine the horrific consequences of a gun going off in in one of these crowded places. Introducing guns to crowded locations could be a recipe for disaster. 

Allowing guns for the purpose of preventing sexual assault raises many questions. What is the purpose of the gun? Is it used for intimidation, or to harm an attacker? Is killing or maiming an attacker even a solution to sexual assault? What if an innocent bystander is injured in the process of stopping a sexual assault? No matter the intent, no good can come from the possession of a gun.

Allowing guns on campus could create tension among students. The presence of firearms could create problems between roommates who differ in their stances on guns, interfering with communication. As for faculty, it may create apprehension and create a hostile learning environment.

These are only a few examples of the campus relationships that are altered by the possession of guns. Undoubtedly, students and faculty would have a heightened sense of fear in knowing that people on campus could be armed guns, which is not the kind of environment that a college campus should foster.

Another aspect of college lifestyle that should be considered in this debate is the reckless weekend behavior, such as the alcohol consumption and illegal drug use, of many students. Situations that involve students under the influence already cause serious danger on campuses across the nation.

Throwing guns into this uncontrolled party scene will cause even more danger. Students at crowded parties, bars or clubs could drunkenly shoot a gun, even if accidentally or without malicious intent, killing or injuring other students or members of the community.

Guns are not the answer to reduce sexual assault. As an alternative solution to the sexual assault problem, colleges could offer self-defense courses – Hofstra does – or provide other protective mechanisms, such as pepper spray. Sexual assault is something that we cannot overlook, and to protect students, we need to consider safe and effective preventative measures instead of adding highly dangerous weapons into the equation.

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