By Maggie Stansell, Campus Carrier Staff Writer
Even within the Berry Bubble, some students feel more secure with certain safeguards. The line drawn between self-defense safeguard and prohibited weapon is often so fuzzy that even the Viking Code struggles to define it.
Berry College has an official policy against “firearms, fireworks, explosives, or weapons” as outlined in the Viking Code Student Handbook. However, this section of the handbook does not list self-defense weapons separately.
The Viking Code, released annually by the College, lists a variety of ways to “protect yourself and your property.” It does not, however, include carrying items like pepper spray to increase safety.
Instead, for safety while walking at night, it advises using “the buddy system” or “walking confidently, directly, at a steady pace.”
While the Viking Code does not specify pepper spray and other such non-lethal items, Bobby Abrams, chief of campus police, explains that they are permitted.
However, campus safety neither recommends nor desires students to use pepper spray since it can easily be misused in a manner that inflicts self-harm or strengthens the perpetrator.
“Pepper spray is okay, but it’s liquid hell,” Abrams said. “Even though it can be a good thing, it can be reversed on you.”
Assistant Dean of Students Lindsay Norman agrees.
“We do not think (pepper spray) is helpful,” Norman said. “However, you are permitted to have it and use it as long as you are using it in an appropriate manner.”
Abrams recommends that students carry whistles rather than pepper spray to prevent accidental exposure to the contents of the canisters.
Even though pepper spray is allowed, “weapons” in the handbook are generally described as “any object or substance designed to inflict a wound, cause injury or incapacitate.”
The handbook lists many weapons that fall under these criteria, but makes note that prohibited weapons are not limited to those listed. Electronic shocking devices are forbidden according to the handbook, as well as any knives two inches or longer.
According to Norman, Berry, as a residential campus, should promote a safe environment as laid out in the guidelines of the Viking Code.
“Our students are really responsible,” Norman said. “If a student owns a weapon, I think students are responsible enough to check policy before they bring it to campus.”
While some students may never carry non-lethal weapons like pepper spray in the first place, others can easily order small canisters of the substance on Amazon for under $10.
Sophomore Meg Ligon carries a small canister attached to her keychain. It was a gift from her father when she turned 16.
“I guess (I carry it) for protection but also for my own peace of mind,” Ligon said. “It makes me feel safer.”
Ligon does not have it with her at all times, but she is aware of where it is, especially when getting gas or walking alone.
Senior Logan Ramsey chooses not to carry pepper spray.
“I personally don’t feel like I need it,” Ramsey said. “I have never felt like I needed it.”
According to Abrams, even though many students choose not to carry weapons at all, Campus Security still acquires a wide variety of prohibited weapons found in residence halls every year.
“We occasionally get knives and nunchucks or some odd thing that comes to us through an RA that’s found them in a residence hall,” Abrams said.
Self-defense weapons on college campuses outside of pepper spray and knives have become a popular topic in recent years. Schools such as the University of Texas allow concealed handguns at their UT Austin branch, a policy that went into effect on August 1 of this year.
The concealed carrier is required to have a license in order to carry a gun. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 18 states currently ban concealed weapons on campus, including Georgia. Research from Johns Hopkins released this October concludes that “successful and warranted civilian defensive gun use is relatively rare.”
At Berry, firearms are not permitted on campus. According to Abrams, those students found with concealed firearms will be charged for violating institutional policy.
Firearms and other weapons, once turned over to Campus Safety, can be returned to the student as long as they pick them up from the station themselves and immediately take them home or off campus.
In regards to concealed carry, Abrams said that it is probably not a possibility on Berry’s campus.
“Berry’s administration will always be opposed to it,” he said.
Click here to read Our View on self defense in the Viking Code.