South Carolina State University leadership announced a pool of new campus safety policies in a Thursday evening meeting with the public. The changes came after an on-campus shooting Feb. 12 in which two people were killed and one was injured.
Changes at the state's only public historically Black university include further restrictions for prospective visitors and an increase in room inspections.
President Alexander Conyers said safety was his top priority at the moment.
"I fully understand that students cannot learn if they are in classrooms in fear. Faculty cannot teach if they are in fear," he said. "And the same with staff, as well alums and visitors to our campus."
Visitors to the university who are not students will now have to present government-issued identification at designated visitor entrances. And visitor access will expire at 9 p.m. each day unless the visitor is approved for a school-sponsored event.
Any nonstudent visitor after following the 9 p.m. cut-off time will be escorted off campus, and the student responsible for the visitor could face disciplinary action for breaking school policy.
The school planned to implement increased health and safety checks to ensure no student is breaking the rules; both scheduled and random room inspections will ramp up in frequency, according to Conyers. Vehicles may also be checked at gates throughout the university, whether the gate is for staff, students or visitors. License plate readers will also be used at vehicle access points.
Conyers said the school will not be gentle with students who are found with a weapon.
"Any student caught with a weapon will be dealt with to the fullest extent allowed by state policy and state law," he said.
Students found with a firearm will be placed on interim suspension and could face expulsion. And under state law, the student could face a $1,000 fine and potentially up to a year in prison.
Students and parents also sent the school questions about future school events and security, and Conyers said events like homecoming and graduation will continue to operate — just with security changes. The university has not made a decision on what exact changes will be made, but potential options include a clear-bag policy and further security presence.\
The university is still providing free mental health support and counseling for students.
Conyers asked parents to ensure their children were compliant with the university's policies.
"If you have a young person in your life that you can't stop from carrying a weapon with them, I encourage you to keep them at home," he said.
He had requested $8 million for police and safety enhancements the same day as the shooting.
The state's House Education and Public Works Committee voted Thursday to send a college safety bill to the House floor. House Bill 5205 would implement a new safety training program for students, among other requirements.
