Hamline University: Student Suspended after Advocating Concealed Carry on Campus

Case Materials

• "FIRE Letter to Hamline University President Linda Hanson, November 7, 2007," November 11, 2007
• "Hamline University Student Suspended After Advocating Concealed Carry for Students," FIRE Press Release, October 10, 2007: Hamline University has suspended a student after he sent an e-mail suggesting that the Virginia Tech massacre might have been stopped if students had been allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. Student Troy Scheffler is now required to undergo a mandatory “mental health evaluation” before being allowed to return to school. Scheffler, who was suspended without due process just two days after sending the e-mail, has turned to FIRE for help.
• "E-mail from Troy Scheffler to Hamline University President Linda Hanson, April 19, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "E-mail from Hamline University President Linda Hanson to Troy Scheffler, April 20, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "E-mail from Troy Scheffler to Hamline University Vice President of Student Affairs David Stern, April 17, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "Letter from Hamline University’s Attorneys to FIRE, September 28, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "FIRE Letter to Hamline University President Linda Hanson, September 17, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "Hamline University Dean of Students Alan Sickbert’s Notice of Suspension to Troy Scheffler, April 23, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "Hamline University President Linda Hanson’s Response to FIRE, June 11, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "Hamline University’s Freedom of Expression and Inquiry Policy," October 10, 2007
• "FIRE Letter to Hamline University President Linda Hanson, May 29, 2007," October 10, 2007

Media Coverage

• "Loss of free inquiry on campus betrays liberal legacy," Jason Steck, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, October 24, 2007
• "College Admins: If you favor Second Amendment rights, you must be crazy," Jon Sanders, Town Hall, October 17, 2007
• "Minnesota College suspends student for advocating gun rights," Joe Murray, The Bulletin, October 15, 2007
• "Student advocates gun rights, gets suspended; Church-affiliated university to require mental evaluation before return allowed," World Net Daily, October 11, 2007
• "Banning guns (and opinions about guns) in college," Brian Doherty, Reason Magazine Hit & Run, October 11, 2007:      
• "Grad student suspended after pro-gun-rights e-mail," Declan McCullagh, CNETNews.com, October 10, 2007