SLIPPERY ROCK — Mary Kate Vitale, a sophomore at Slippery Rock University from Erie, was surprised to discover that people with permits can carry firearms at SRU and at some other State System of Higher Education campuses.

She is not in favor of this policy.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Vitale said.

In spring of 2012, the state system recommended that its schools begin to revise their weapons policies.

Kenn Marshall, state system spokesman, said concerns about campus policies began after the Legislature passed the castle doctrine in 2011, which allows the use of deadly force in self-defense situations.

After that, the state system’s legal counsel provided a model policy for the schools to adapt.

Universities are able to prohibit weapons in buildings, residence halls and other facilities, as well as during events on school property. However, Marshall said that state system policies have to be consistent with state laws, which allow people with permits to carry firearms.

Before the changes in policy, most state system schools, including SRU, had regulations banning weapons on campuses.

Marshall said the ultimate goal of these policies is safety.

“That’s still the number one priority,” Marshall said.

However, the state system is asking its 14 schools to pump the brakes on any changes to their weapons policies.

Guido Pichini, chairman of the state system board of governors, on May 10 told state system universities to avoid modifying their policies until after a public safety and security task force, formed in April, finishes studying campus safety and police operations.

SRU’s weapons policy, approved by the council of trustees in September, states that possession of any weapon “by any person is prohibited in academic buildings, administrative buildings, student residence buildings, dining facilities, recreational facilities, student centers, or while attending a sporting, entertainment, recreational or educational event on university property.”

However, the policy does not prohibit weapons in open spaces on university property or in vehicles brought onto SRU property.

People who violate the policy are directed by SRU police to remove the weapon from SRU’s property. Students or employees who do not comply with the directive may be further disciplined.

Exempt from the policy are SRU police officers as are municipal, state and federal officers, and U.S. military personnel in doing their duties.

Also exempt are “current employees of the university, and authorized contractors, utilizing tools or other field/office instruments in the performance of their duties.”

The policy defines weapons as “any firearm, shotgun, rifle, knife, cutting instrument, bow, nunchaku, BB gun, paintball gun, and any other tool, instrument or implement capable of inflicting serious bodily injury.”

SRU President Cheryl Norton’s office referred questions on the weapons policy to SRU’s public relations office. SRU spokesman Karl Schwab said all comments on weapons policies are coming out of the state system’s headquarters.

In addition to SRU, California, Edinboro, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Millersville and Shippensburg universities recently changed weapons policies.

Marshall said many state system schools in rural areas had policies where students can store hunting materials at the university police station and take them out when they choose to go hunting.

“As far as I know, those still apply,” Marshall said.

SRU police does have a program like this, which allows people to store rifles, shotguns, bows and arrows, other hunting gear and handguns at the police station.

Marshall said the change in policy mainly was to address concealed weapons on campuses. He said people who want to carry concealed weapons on campuses still have to have proper permit.

People on SRU’s campus have mixed feelings about the policy.

Patrick Burkhart, a geology professor and president of SRU’s Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties chapter, said the union fears “mishap and malice.”

“We hold a serious concern about the safety of everyone at the university,” Burkhart said.

He said it is difficult to know if the presence of guns on campus would increase safety or not.

Burkhart said there have been some discussions on campus about the issue, but said he has not been able to fully pay attention to them because he is busy grading final exams. SRU’s graduation is Saturday.

“It’s been a hot topic in e-mail conversations,” Burkhart said.

He said people can be passionate about gun issues on both sides.

“It’s an inflammatory circumstance right now,” Burkhart said.

Zac Baird, a freshman from Plum, said he also was surprised by and not in favor of the policy.

“I don’t think that’s right,” Baird said.

He said he was not aware of anyone other than police officers who walked around campus with guns, but said he knew of several students who carried knives.

Peter Moran, a freshman from Erie, agreed with Baird.

“Personally, I don’t feel very comfortable walking around campus if people are allowed to carry guns,” Moran said.

Like Baird, he said he knew of no one other than police officers who carry guns on campus but he knew of several people who carried knives.

Ryan Betz, a sophomore from Ellwood City, said safety of students and other people on campus should be a top priority. However, he was in favor of the policy from a legal standpoint.

“If it’s legal anywhere in the state, it should be legal on state property,” Betz said.

Josh Weitzel, a senior from Prospect and the secretary of SRU’s Young Americans For Liberty chapter, said that policy is not consistent with the Second Amendment.

Just like a person can defend himself in his home, he feels students should be able to defend themselves in their dorms. Also, since nearly all students are adults, he feels they should be allowed such autonomy.

However, he feels the new policy is preferable to a campuswide ban on guns.

“It’s definitely not the worst they can do,” Weitzel said.

He said he plans to start a Second Amendment group on campus in the fall.