The final open campus forum to discuss the issue of arming University of Oregon's campus police offiers was the best-attended, with at least 50 students, faculty and staff on hand for Wednesday's (March 6) discussion in the Knight Library Browsing Room.

A total of three forums – the first on Feb. 11 and the second Feb. 26 – were held to share information and discuss the issue of armed police officers. Interim UOPD Chief Carolyn McDermed also hosted five open, small-group meetings that concluded on March 5.

E-mailed comments on the issue will continue to be accepted through March 15 at campuspolicing@uoregon.edu.

The UO was granted permission in 2011 by the Oregon Legislature, Gov. John Kitzhaber and the State Board of Higher Education to form the state’s first on-campus police department at a public university. For the past year – with the help of an advisory group of students, faculty and staff – university leaders have been researching, analyzing and discussing the issue of arming UOPD police officers.

Several factors will play into the decision of whether to recommend to the State Board of Higher Education that UOPD officers should be armed. Informed public input will be an important part of the consideration.

Additional stories and information about the issue are available at around.uoregon.edu/campus-policing.

- from UO Office of Strategic Communications