Empty Holster Protest

On the U of I campus last Thursday.

U of I student group advocates gun carry on campus

I missed this from a few days ago:



New UI Student Group Backs Carrying Guns on Campus

New student group being formed at ISU: Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Last semester, a new student organization, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, was started by Anthony Taylor, junior in software engineering, as a way to change the ISU policy on weapons. ISU policy reads, "Weapons are not permitted on the campus except for purposes of law enforcement and as specifically authorized for purposes of instruction, research or service."

Using a "clever" headline of Students up in arms over gun laws but not everyone is laughing:

"I think that if people started carrying concealed weapons on campus, the atmosphere of campus will change to one where people are fearful and suspicious of other people," said Stephanie Madon, associate professor of psychology.

College campuses have been promoting the idea that any and all males are potential rapists (please disregard members of Iowa athletics for a while) and just now she doesn't want people to be fearful or suspicious of each other?

Mz Madon write papers, such as: Self-fulfilling prophecy effects of mothers' beliefs on children's alcohol use: accumulation, dissipation, and stability over time.

Which is okay, I'm not dissing her for writing such a title, but it seems that her papers are mostly about alcohol and teens.

Hardly an expert on guns.

But I'm sure she could crank out a research paper with a little Joyce Foundation funding.

Straightarrow's challenge

In comments to this post University of Iowa Threat team Straightarrow asks, "So, I ask again, how big a threat are these people?"

Having been in that PC hell-hole for a number of years, I was looking at it from the perspective of this being another feel-good, doing something without really doing something program. A couple of people nosing around and getting into your business.

But his words made me rethink this.

Some of the worst policies implemented in this country have been pushed by academics. Look at cabinet secretaries in the past several administrations, both republican and democrat.

I figured that as long as they don't have any authority these "Threat Teams" could only make noise and maybe ruin some guy's reputation, at most.

But add a little power, and next they will have their own show-trials to be suspending students from school or get people fired. The next step would be to send their perceived "threats" for psych evaluations and involuntary, re-educational lockup. After that, would be jail time.

A couple of administrations later and these little "people commissars" will be in every neighborhood looking into our windows and bank accounts finding threats everywhere.

And they will find threats, because if they don't, they have no reason to exist.

So, to answer your question SA: Yes, they are a threat. The whole concept is a threat.

Free men don't need anyone watching over them.

Thanks, SA.

University of Iowa Threat team

Threat assessment team has it's hands full at the University of Iowa campus

Since its formation in late 2008, the University of Iowa's threat assessment team has been involved with close to 175 cases.

They have to be busy since there's only two of them.

And what does this team of two people do? They snoop on students, staff, and faculty.

The purpose of the group is to identify UI faculty, staff or students who are a threat to themselves or to others.

They rely on snitches to turn people in.

The threat assessment specialists generally are notified of a potential problem by roommates, resident hall staff or student services for students; and supervisors, human resources representatives or departmental staff for faculty and staff. The duo also gives presentations across campus to get the word out about the program.

Sometimes people need help and reach out to others for assistance. This couple was formed after the Virginia Tech shootings in an effort to "do something" for those who might need help.

How effective are they?

The program isn't perfect and the pair admits that oftentimes, there's no tangible result stemming from their work.

Apparently not much.

Seems like another feel-good, do-something-not-tangible effort by a university that wouldn't know an affective way to solve real problems.