2008 Woodie Awards
Student takes gun on trip over safety concern
By Natalia Montemayor
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: News
Originally published: 4/19/07 at 6:56 PM CSTLast update: 4/19/07 at 11:40 PM CST
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While attending a Phi Theta Kappa leadership conference in Houston last fall, former student Lisa Geddie brought along a handgun.
Geddie, who was the secretary of the local chapter of the honor society, chose to bring the weapon because of her concern for her personal safety, but was met with opposition when faculty advisers learned about the gun during the trip.
"I sincerely believe that it is our right to carry a personal handgun on or within your personal property," Geddie said in a telephone interview Tuesday.
Geddie also stated she is licensed to carry a concealed weapon and felt she had legitimate reason to be concerned for her well-being.
Economics Professor Susan Spencer, who is a faculty adviser for PTK, attended the trip and explained that Geddie was concerned because of the trip's location.
"Just last weekend, we were all in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry, and nobody had any worries, but it isn't the same when you are in downtown Houston," Spencer said.
According to Geddie, the weapon also was brought along while PTK traveled to Kerrville for a Texas summer honors institute, during the summer of 2006.
"We took our own vehicles that time, and everyone knew about the gun," Geddie said before adding that no advisers had knowledge of the weapon.
Geddie said the advisers learned of her weapon after she privately showed it to two male PTK members while they were discussing hunting, and mentioned an incident in which a female adviser, Robyn McGilloway, entered her hotel room without warning.
"We were all changing, and all of a sudden one of the advisers walked into the room, which was an invasion of our privacy," Geddie said.
Upon returning from the trip, Geddie and PTK advisers met with President Robert Zeigler.
"All I can say is that there was an incident, and it was dealt with according to the student code of conduct," Zeigler said.
Then Geddie met with Emma Mendiola, dean of Student Services, to discuss the issue.
Geddie, who was the secretary of the local chapter of the honor society, chose to bring the weapon because of her concern for her personal safety, but was met with opposition when faculty advisers learned about the gun during the trip.
"I sincerely believe that it is our right to carry a personal handgun on or within your personal property," Geddie said in a telephone interview Tuesday.
Geddie also stated she is licensed to carry a concealed weapon and felt she had legitimate reason to be concerned for her well-being.
Economics Professor Susan Spencer, who is a faculty adviser for PTK, attended the trip and explained that Geddie was concerned because of the trip's location.
"Just last weekend, we were all in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry, and nobody had any worries, but it isn't the same when you are in downtown Houston," Spencer said.
According to Geddie, the weapon also was brought along while PTK traveled to Kerrville for a Texas summer honors institute, during the summer of 2006.
"We took our own vehicles that time, and everyone knew about the gun," Geddie said before adding that no advisers had knowledge of the weapon.
Geddie said the advisers learned of her weapon after she privately showed it to two male PTK members while they were discussing hunting, and mentioned an incident in which a female adviser, Robyn McGilloway, entered her hotel room without warning.
"We were all changing, and all of a sudden one of the advisers walked into the room, which was an invasion of our privacy," Geddie said.
Upon returning from the trip, Geddie and PTK advisers met with President Robert Zeigler.
"All I can say is that there was an incident, and it was dealt with according to the student code of conduct," Zeigler said.
Then Geddie met with Emma Mendiola, dean of Student Services, to discuss the issue.
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