Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) Policy statement. Persons entering the
property of Youngstown state university (university) must comply with all laws
and university policies and rules governing weapons.
(B) Purpose. This policy is designed to
create and maintain an environment that sustains the general health and
well-being of students, employees, and visitors.
(C) Scope. This policy applies to students,
faculty, staff, visitors, vendors, contractors, and any other individual on or
utilizing university owned or leased property.
University owned or leased vehicles are covered by this policy
at all times regardless of whether they are on university property.
(D) Definitions.
(1) "University property" - all university
owned or leased property, including but not limited to residence halls,
grounds, buildings, facilities, and parking lots.
(2) "Deadly weapon" - any instrument, device,
or thing capable of inflicting death, and designed or specially adapted for use
as a weapon, or possessed, carried, or used as a weapon. (See section
2923.11
of the Revised Code.)
(E) Restrictions.
(1) The illegal possession, use, or
unauthorized storage of a deadly weapon, firearm, explosive device, incendiary
device, ballistic knife, or dangerous ordnance (collectively referred to as
"deadly weapons" for purposes of this policy), as defined by section
2923.11
of the Revised Code, is strictly prohibited on all university
property.
(2) In addition to this
policy, university students are also subject to restrictions within the student
code of conduct, housing agreements, event policies, and other applicable
university policies.
(3) Disabled
weapons, realistic replicas or simulated/nonfunctional firearms are strictly
prohibited.
(4) The use of any
deadly or disabled weapon or realistic replica of such in a manner that harms
or threatens persons or property is strictly prohibited, even if legally
possessed.
(5) Live ammunition is
strictly prohibited.
(6) See
paragraph (G) of this rule for policy exemptions.
(F) Conceal carry weapons license (CCW). All
persons who enter university property are prohibited from carrying a concealed
handgun/firearm, as prescribed under Ohio law, or prohibited weapon of any kind
onto university property. This prohibition applies to all employees, students,
faculty, visitors, customers and contractors on university property.
Possession of a valid concealed weapon permit authorized by the
state of Ohio is not an exemption under this policy. An individual who has a
valid CCW permit when on any university property must legally secure their
firearm in a locked vehicle. University owned or leased vehicles may not be
used to secure a firearm.
(G) Policy exemptions. The following
exemptions to this policy are allowed under the stated circumstances:
(1) Any federal, state, local, or university
law enforcement officer, while engaged in the performance of their official
duties, or off-duty law enforcement officers qualified to possess an off-duty
firearm by the officer's employing agency.
(2) Disabled weapons, realistic replicas, or
simulated/nonfunctional firearms used for educational, artistic, or theatrical
purposes with the prior authorization of the appropriate department chair or
supervisor and the inspection and authorization of the university chief of
police or designee.
(a) Notification to the
university chief of police or designee must be made three days prior to the
intended usage date.
(b) The
weapon/replica/firearm must be contained in a case while being transported and
may only be removed and used inside a classroom, secure office, rehearsal
space, theater, or the immediate vicinity of a theater and/or exhibition
space.
(3) Students or
cadre of the military science program (ROTC) acting in their official capacity
shall be permitted to transport and utilize deadly weapons for training,
special events, or demonstrations as prescribed by program policy.
(4) Any employee of the university who is
employed as a maintenance worker, technician, groundskeeper, storekeeper,
parking employee, vendor, contractor, or other position not listed above whose
normal duties require the use of knives, utility knives, leatherman tools, or
other cutting instruments shall be permitted to possess, carry, and use those
instruments while engaged in their normal course of duties.
(5) A university police academy instructor
while engaged in the performance of their official duties and who is either
employed as a law enforcement officer or is a retired law enforcement
officer.
(6) A university police
academy cadet during training of university policy academy instructors as
provided or approved by the university peace officer training academy and/or
the university police department.
(7) Any instructor of, or student enrolled
in, the marksmanship class as provided by the university while on a shooting
range during class hours.
(H) Notification. The university
conspicuously posts "Weapons Prohibited" signs at university facilities and
parking areas surrounding university facilities.
(I) Searches. Youngstown state university
reserves the right to authorize searches based on reasonable, articulable
suspicion for prohibited deadly weapons on its property as deemed necessary by
the university to assure campus safety. Refusal to permit a search may result
in student discipline up to and including expulsion and employee discipline up
to and including termination.
(J)
Violations. Failure to abide by all terms and conditions of this policy may
result in discipline up to and including termination for faculty and staff and
expulsion for students, the filing of criminal charges, and/or removal from
university property.
(K) Reporting.
Report any violations of this policy to campus police immediately.
(L) Enforcement. The university police
department is solely responsible for the oversight and implementation of this
policy on university property. All requests for exceptions or deviation from
this policy must be approved by the university chief or police or
designee.
(M) Limitations. This
policy shall not be construed to create any duty or obligation on the part of
the university to take any actions beyond those required by law.
