Weapons are for my own protection. They're allowed right? No, they are not...
Creating a safe living and learning environment for students is vital to the academic mission of East Carolina University. The presence of weapons is incongruent to the mission of the University and therefore, not allowed on campus. The weapons policy not only applies to students, but to all members of the ECU community. Violations of the weapons policy are taken very seriously by the University. A student found in possession of a weapon will face disciplinary action by the University as well as possible criminal prosecution.
Guns, rifles, pistols, and any other firearm or explosive are not allowed on property owned or controlled by ECU, or any other educational property in North Carolina. Students found in possession of these or similar weapons will face a minimum of suspension for one year for a first-time violation. Students found responsible for violating this policy for a second time will be expelled for the University of North Carolina (UNC) system. That means they will not be able to attend any of the 16 institutions part of the UNC system.
Possession of weapons including but not limited to BB gun, air rifle, air pistol, bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slingshot, leaded cane, switchblade knife, blackjack, metallic knuckles, razors and razor blades and any sharp pointed or edged instrument is also a policy violation. Using any object to cause, threaten or injure another person is also a violation of this policy. Weapons policy violations of this nature will result in suspension for a minimum of one semester for a first time violation. Students who violate this policy for the second time will be expelled from the UNC system. Please note that many objects considered “toys” fall within this policy, including paintball guns or toy guns that work by air pressure.
In rare situations students may be authorized to have a weapon on campus. These instances include possession of weapons for educational and ceremonial purposes or as part of a school-approved program, such as ROTC. In these cases, the students must seek authorization from the Chief of the ECU Police Department. A student who has not sought authorization from the Chief and possesses a weapon on University grouds is violating this policy.
If you have a weapon on campus, remove it immediately. Return it home or give it to a trusted friend who lives off-campus for storage (make sure that the weapon is properly secured). If you cannot immediately remove the weapon from campus, you are expected to bring the weapon to the ECU Police Department until you are able to remove it from campus. If you are unsure whether an object is considered a weapon, contact the ECU Police Department (252-328-6787) or Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities (252-328-6824) for guidance.
