Last summer, University of Texas students were armed with the most menacing weapon of all…dildos. In recent controversy over the open-carry gun policy, one activist named Jessica Jin decided to take a stand for gun control by bringing a dildo to school. According to Pierce College Student code, concealed-weapons are completely prohibited, but how do students feel about our own gun policy?

Military veteran, Nicole, would not feel completely safe with open-carry. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable with just anybody carrying a weapon to school. […] Maybe if there were weapon safety classes for people, it could work.”

 Hypothetically speaking, if a student decided to protest against prohibited concealed-weapons, how would they go about that? Better yet, what if we had our own “Cocks not Glocks” scenario, but just reversed?

In the Pierce Student Code of Conduct under 132K-126-090 and 132K-126-100, students have the freedom of expression and assembly, and have every right to express their opinions. Director of Safety and Security Chris Mackersie says, “It’s the republic’s right to freedom of speech and we’ll protect that to the best of our ability.”

On how far limitations would extend towards a protest depends on the size and severity of the situation. According to Mackersie, “If it interferes with the educational process in the classroom, financial aid out in the common area where they do their business, then that’s where the rub would be for us.”

This “rub,” or problem could prove to be detrimental if it leads to judicial action, especially if activists become violent or disruptive towards other students. On whether or not a provocative protest piece could fall under “disruptive” terms depend on where and when the piece would be.

No arrests have been made for the University of Texas protestors, since it fell under freedom of speech and did not violate anyone’s safety, it was allowed. Now if this took place at Pierce, it would heavily depend on how much distraction is in the classroom.

Under the guidelines of a silent protest, whipping out a sex toy in class would heavily depend on the professor. Mackersie noted “it depends on the class, is there any relation to the instruction or what they’re teaching, that would relate to; or is it completely intended to be disruptive. How tolerant is the faculty member? If they don’t think it’s appropriate, then it’s likely that a report will be written.”

Of course, depending on the instructor (please do not bring inappropriate items to class unless you have expressed permission from your professor), the freedom to express an idea could be accepted. As Vice President of District Administrative Services said:

“The key thing is that as an educational institution, we’re here to be part of social conversation, we’re here to be part of the educational process in more ways than just the textbook part of a classroom. I see [Cocks not Glocks] as almost the same thing as wearing a T-shirt with some sort of dramatic phrase on it, or something like that where people are just wanting to show the absurdity of something or make a dramatic statement about whatever the cause is.”

Regardless of people’s opinions with “Cocks not Glocks”, it has certainly caught people’s attention. Whether it be a knee, flag, or dildo, silent protest is seeming to make a comeback and if it makes people talk, it is most likely serving its purpose.