The Board of Trustees of Our Lady of the Lake University voted to “opt out” of allowing persons holding concealed handgun licenses (CHL) to carry firearms on its campus in San Antonio.
The decision follows last summer’s passage of Senate Bill 11 in the Texas Legislature’s 84th Session allowing CHL holders to carry on the campuses of colleges and universities in the state. The bill included a provision for private universities to decide “after consultation with campus constituents” whether to follow the decision, create special “carry spaces” on campus or to “opt out.”
Board of Trustees Chairman Roy Terracina said, “The OLLU community and its board took this responsibility very seriously as we explored the options and made the decision.”
President Diane E. Melby said, “Almost 1,300 students, faculty, staff, and Sisters of Divine Providence participated in the process.
“I am very proud of the many thoughtful voices that came forward from our campus community representing all perspectives on this important topic. We listened and took their views to heart.”
OLLU joins Rice, Trinity, St. Mary’s, and the University of the Incarnate Word among private universities in Texas that have decided to opt out.
This decision by its board means OLLU will continue with its current policy of not allowing concealed carry on its campus. With an enrollment of 3,300 students the university employs a full-time police department of law enforcement officers licensed by the state.