Weapon Policy

This policy provides rules and regulations concerning the possession of weapons on campus and in all facilities and locations owned or operated by Geneva College in an effort to provide a safe and secure learning and working environment for its students, employees, and visitors. 

Possession or carrying of any weapon by any person, except by those approved in writing by the Director of Security, is prohibited on college property in any buildings or any outdoor areas to which access is restricted to members of the college community and invited guests, or while attending any college events or college sanctioned events.  Entry upon the aforementioned college property in violation of this prohibition is expressly forbidden. 

No faculty or staff member, student, affiliate or contracted service representative shall carry, maintain or store a weapon, concealed or otherwise, on any property owned, leased or controlled by the college, except as provided herein. No visitor shall carry, maintain or store a weapon, concealed or otherwise, in any controlled space owned, leased or controlled by the college or at any college event. Items that are used as weapons on property owned or operated by the college, whether or not they fit the provided definitions, will also subject the user to discipline or removal.

Any student who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary sanctions under the student conduct process, up to and including expulsion. An affiliate who violates this policy will be subject to revocation of affiliate status. A visitor who violates this policy will be subject to removal from campus and being barred from campus. Sanctions will be commensurate with the severity and/or frequency of the offense.

For clarification purposes, some guidelines on defining a weapon are included below:

1. A weapon is any instrument or device designed primarily for use in inflicting death or injury upon a human being or animal, and which is capable of inflicting death or injury when used in the manner for which it was designed. Additionally, any instrument or device of any sort whatsoever which is actually used in such a manner as to indicate that the possessor intends to inflict death or injury upon another, and which, when so used, is capable of inflicting death or injury upon another, is a weapon.
2. Weapons include any pistol, revolver, shotgun, machine gun, rifle or other firearm, BB or pellet gun, taser or stun gun, bomb, grenade, mine, or other explosive or incendiary device, ammunition, archery equipment, dagger, stiletto, switchblade knife, or knife having a blade exceeding five inches in length. Residents on campus may possess knives having a blade exceeding five inches for cooking purposes.
3. A “weapon” also means an object that is not an instrument capable of inflicting death or injury but closely resembles such an instrument (e.g., a realistic toy, replica, imitation weapon or look-a-like gun that is reasonably capable of being mistaken for a real weapon) or the student used the object in a manner that created the impression that the object was such an instrument (e.g., wrapping a hand in a towel to create the appearance of a gun).

Hunting Equipment
Although we recognize that students may choose to participate in the various hunting seasons, all hunting related weapons are still not allowed to be kept in college housing or vehicles on campus at any time.