Ohio University's workplace violence policy has been updated to clarify a prohibition against "carrying, showing, or displaying" weapons.
The revised policy limits the prohibition to weapons that are not authorized, said Vice President for Administration Gary North.
"The original policy, if read literally, could be interpreted as a strict prohibition against having any sort of weapon on campus," North said. "That is not and never was the intent of the Workplace Violence Policy. The policy is intended to protect students and employees from threatening or violent behavior -- not to limit anyone's freedom of speech or expression."
The word "unauthorized" was inserted in a clause listing examples of unacceptable behavior, which include carrying, showing or displaying (unauthorized) dangerous or threatening weapons. Examples of authorized weapons would include firearms required by campus police officers, arms used by Military Science for training purposes, archive collections, props for theatrical or entertainment presentations, and weapons used for decorative purposes. Campus police are responsible for determining if a weapon is safe for display.
"As stated when the policy was initially adopted in December of 2000, Ohio University strongly disapproves and will not tolerate threats, violent behavior, or acts of intimidation or harassment of any kind by any Ohio University employee upon any faculty, staff, students or visitors," said President Robert Glidden.
"I urge every employee to read the policy in full, to ask questions if you have them, and never to hesitate reporting any incident of threats, vandalism, assault, or harassment in any form -- verbal, written, or by gesture," Glidden said.
"It is unfortunate, but all too evident today, that we must take very seriously our responsibility to protect students and employees from the worst-case scenario of violent or threatening behavior," Glidden added. "I asked that this policy be updated to clearly focus attention on behavior -- not objects. This is too important a responsibility to be trivialized."
The policy can be found at www.ohiou.edu/policy/41-135.html under the alphabetical listing "Workplace Violence," or under procedure number 41.135. As required by the policy, every new employee will receive a copy of the policy at the time of employment. Further questions can be answered by contacting University Human Resources at (740) 593-1636.
