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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Atlanta, GA | Posted: May 4, 2016
On May 3 Georgia Governor Nathan Deal vetoed campus carry legislation, House Bill 859. The bill would have legalized firearms in almost all areas at all public colleges and universities in Georgia.
In addition to his veto message, the governor issued an executive order directing that by Aug. 1 the University System of Georgia (USG) and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) submit a report to him, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the State House of Representatives on the security measures that each college within their respective systems currently has in place. He also called on the leaders of the municipalities and counties in which USG and TCSG colleges are located, along with their law enforcement agencies, to review and improve, if necessary, their security measures in areas surrounding these colleges.
The USG issued the following statement: “We sincerely appreciate Governor Deal’s veto of House Bill 859. We recognize this was not an easy decision for the governor to make. The vast majority of our faculty, staff, parents, and students are concerned about firearms on campus. As leaders of the University System of Georgia, we must provide the highest levels of safety and security to the 318,000 students we serve. The Board of Regents, our 29 presidents, and campus police chiefs are fully committed to enhancing all aspects of our campus safety efforts across the university system. We look forward to presenting our campus safety report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the House by Aug. 1, 2016.”
Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson was among the USG presidents publicly supporting Chancellor Hank Huckaby in opposing the legislation. In February, Georgia Tech’s Undergraduate Student Government Association surveyed students on the issue, and found that more than 70 percent of those responding indicated they would feel less safe if the bill were passed. On March 1 the Undergraduate SGA passed a resolution in opposition of the legislation.
“We greatly appreciate Governor Deal’s ongoing support for higher education and applaud his leadership in carefully evaluating this legislation to ensure the safety of all on our campus,” said Peterson.
