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Students at Northern Illinois University (NIU) face real threats to their safety both on and around campus. DeKalb, IL, while home to the university, is not immune to serious crime. In 2023 alone, DeKalb reported 86 aggravated assaults, 164 burglaries, and 410 thefts, according to publicly available crime data. Students deserve the right to protect themselves, especially in a climate where personal safety is not always guaranteed.
Despite this reality, NIU’s current policy prohibits the possession of many common and non-lethal self-defense tools. According to the university handbook, “possession and/or use of any device… which can be used to inflict a wound or cause injury or harm” is a violation. The policy includes “stun guns,” “airsoft guns,” “knives,” and vaguely worded items like “any object which can be used to inflict… harm.” This sweeping language has the unintended consequence of banning non-lethal self-defense tools such as pepper spray an item that countless women and vulnerable individuals carry in everyday life for basic protection.
This blanket prohibition leaves students defenseless in the face of real danger. Students should not have to choose between violating university policy and protecting themselves from assault, robbery, or worse. The policy as it stands is outdated, overly broad, and fails to account for students’ right to self-defense.
We demand a revision of NIU’s weapons policy to explicitly allow non-lethal self-defense tools specifically pepper spray for all students aged 18 and older. The revised policy should include clear language permitting these items and affirm students’ right to carry them on campus for personal protection.
NIU has the opportunity to lead by example and create a safer environment for its students without compromising campus safety. Allowing students access to reasonable and non-lethal methods of self-defense is a small but vital step in that direction.
We, the undersigned students and concerned citizens, hereby petition President Lisa C. Freeman and the NIU administration to revise the current policy and explicitly permit the possession of non-lethal self-defense tools such as pepper spray.