In response to the State News article on Michigan State University’s ban on the possession of pepper spray per Ordinance 18, I must first state that I believe I understand the precaution the Board of Trustees was taking, but the code is in definite need of an amendment. The code currently places a ban on carrying chemical sprays while on campus by anyone who is not a law enforcement officer. This does not just mean that the average student trying to protect themselves is prohibited, but also that the attacker would be charged with extra violations if they used pepper spray to subdue their victim. Certainly, there is a need to keep criminals in check, but it should not be at a cost to the victim.

The bottom line is that in a situation of imminent danger, students must be free to defend themselves. This requires some preventative measures. All the talk of a preemptive lecture on the subject of assault being necessary to curtail these horrendous attacks is misguided. We cannot assume that someone who commits such a crime is acting rationally or would be dissuaded had they been better informed prior to committing the assault. Not even the death penalty has been proven to deter potential murderers from committing their crimes. If the highest punishment any mortal can bestow upon another does not convince people to think twice, nothing will. Therefore, it is up to each and every one of us to take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves when walking alone at night. I myself never walk without devices that allow me to go on the offensive if caught off guard, and I encourage everyone to do the same.

Ultimately, it is the instigator who is at fault for their actions, but I would rather give them an eyeful of pepper spray than simply hope that a good Samaritan will come along and scare them off. I may walk 100 days and nights and never need to ward off an attacker, but I loathe the thought of the day I have to do so. This ordinance placing restrictions on the rights of students was, I believe, well-intentioned, but is in need of amendment. There is no reason a student should not be allowed to carry chemical devices such as pepper spray for their protection on campus. It is true that we have alarm posts all over campus, but what good are they if the one being attacked cannot evade their assailant long enough to reach one of them? I will be making every effort to address this issue in the General Assembly when we meet this fall and will personally see this ordinance amended by the Board of Trustees to protect a student’s right to defend themselves.

Evan Schrage ,

ASMSU representative of the college of social science, Public Policy Junior