Motlow officials get ?F? for gun incident
Motlow College officials are not going to reveal the disciplinary action taken against a female student responsible for 19 guns being brought to a classroom on the McMinnville campus.
Instead, we?ve been given word from the college president in less than convincing fashion that the situation ?was addressed and dealt with.? It?s hardly the no-nonsense, hard-line attitude you?d expect for such a flagrant violation of school policy.
There are no firearms permitted on Motlow campus. Period.
There?s no small print that says firearms are OK if used as a visual aid in a classroom presentation. There?s not an asterisk that says firearms are allowed if brought to campus by a third party who is not enrolled at the school.
Maybe Motlow officials would like us all to close our eyes and pretend this incident never happened. They have been quiet about it from the start and equally hush-hush about the punishment. Such secrecy does nothing to instill a sense of confidence that appropriate ? and stiff ? action has been taken.
According to reports from Motlow officials, a female student had a male relative smuggle 19 guns on campus to serve as a visual aid for a speech. The topic was the ease at which guns can be brought on campus.
As the student was talking, the relative proceeded to pull out firearms that were hidden on his person or in his backpack. When the speech was over, there were 19 firearms in the classroom.
The speech clearly illustrates a glaring weakness in Motlow security. There were firearms brought on campus, and rather easily at that. It also provided school officials the perfect platform to take a hard-line stance. By speaking loudly and clearly, they could have sent a resounding message that this sort of behavior will not be tolerated ? school project or not.
With the spotlight shining, Motlow officials could have outlined what happened, and stated with pride the measures they planned to implement to prevent such a violation from recurring.
Instead we get the silent treatment with the school hiding behind the Buckley Amendment as the reason it can?t release disciplinary action taken against a student.
There are no federal or state laws which prohibit a school from releasing such information. The Buckley Amendment says federal school funds could be jeopardized if a school releases the academic records or disciplinary actions taken against one of its students without that student?s written permission.
However, the amendment also states the release of such information is acceptable if ?the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons.?
When it comes to protecting the safety of Motlow students, a person responsible for 19 firearms being brought on campus creates an avalanche of concern. Nothing in today?s society threatens the safety of the American student more than firearms on campus.
The cold, hard truth is the federal government would never withhold funds from Motlow College because the school released the disciplinary action taken against a student responsible for 19 guns on campus.
Instead it appears the college has done nothing to discipline the student and nothing to modify campus security. Motlow officials deserve an ?F? in this evaluation.