On Sunday, April 18, 2021, Bowling Green University issued an alert to students and staff of reports of a man with a gun on campus and ordered a university wide lockdown.  The subject was located and arrested for Inducing a Panic.  Once the threat was contained, BGSU issued an all clear message.

On Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 3:23 pm, two adult men were observed on campus openly carrying rifles.  BGSU did not issue an alert to students.  Instead, parents and students learned of this either by personally witnessing it or through personal social media accounts and text messaging.  Students were afraid to leave the dorms and buildings to attend classes, go the cafeterias, or leave for work.  BGSU failed to communicate any information to students and staff for hours.   Parents who called the BGSU Office of the President were told “we are aware of the situation and are handling it in accordance with policy and the law”.   Some parents who called Bowling Green University Police and City Police were told, “there’s nothing we can do”.  They would not inform callers if the armed men were still on campus and if so, where on campus.  It was not made clear why these men were not also arrested.  Students and parents relied on social media and texting to inform one another.

BGSU did not issue statement or provide information to students until 5:57 p.m. more than two hours later when they issued the following: ” Earlier today, the University learned of two individuals on campus openly carrying firearms. This is the second activity of this nature in the last 72-hours. In light of the tragic incidents happening across the nation, we understand people may have concern. While concealing a firearm on campus is a violation of our policy and Ohio Revised Code, today’s activity is not unlawful. These individuals are no longer on campus, and there is no current threat.”

We the staff, parents and students of Bowling Green University believe that:

1) Students and Staff deserve to live, learn, and work in a safe environment.  April 20th marks the 22nd anniversary of the Columbine school shooting.  This generation of students and staff have been well educated in the threat of a school shooting and many have participated in ALICE training.  Persons – other than uniformed law enforcement officers – who are carrying a weapon on campus cause widespread REASONABLE panic to students and staff.   It is prudent, reasonable and consistent with Ohio school education training for students and staff to shelter in place and await safety instructions.  This type of incident in effect prohibits students and staff from moving freely about campus to attend class, access food services and other campus services, and learn effectively due to the stress related to the incident. 

2) Campus should be a Gun Free Zone.  Open carry and/or concealed carry should not be permitted by students, staff or visitors to campus (except for law enforcement officers, ROTC students under supervision, military personnel working in an official capacity on campus and other persons issued a limited time written permit by BGSU.)

3) BGSU has a duty to immediately inform students and staff if there are reports of a person(s) with a gun on campus and relay pertinent information such as description of the person(s), type of weapon, and location on campus.  BGSU also has a duty to immediately inform students and staff regarding the outcome of law enforcement investigations.

4) BGSU can and should ask law enforcement to issue a criminal trespass warning to any person(s) found openly carrying on campus.  Loopholes in poorly written BGSU policy and Ohio open-carry gun laws need to be addressed, and BGSU should utilize trespassing rights.