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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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Survey sparks gun discussion

T.J. Thomson
Tommy Schumacher, sophomore of Ainsworth, middle, watches as Dan Lucht, right, sophomore of St. Paul, speaks during the Social Science Club’s “Discussion on Guns in America” political discussion forum. The evening featured about 20 students who participated in a series of 15-minute discussions on gun-related topics. — Photo by T.J. Thomson
Tommy Schumacher, sophomore of Ainsworth, middle, watches as Dan Lucht, right, sophomore of St. Paul, speaks during the Social Science Club’s “Discussion on Guns in America” political discussion forum. The evening featured about 20 students who participated in a series of 15-minute discussions on gun-related topics. — Photo by T.J. Thomson

About 20 CSC students participated in a 90-minute discussion that centered around three gun-related topics Monday evening in Old Admin.

The Social Science club hosted the event and used data collected from CSC employee and student sources to guide the discussion.

The event was “structured around a survey we conducted of CSC student and faculty opinions on the current gun debate,” club President Stephanie Reynaga, junior of Alliance, stated in a Feb. 7 email.

“Our objective on campus is spreading cultural awareness,” Reynaga said Wednesday. “We’re a non-partisan group; we don’t want to say anyone’s opinions. Our main goal is to keep students informed and promote awareness.”

Monday evening’s gun debate was the result of a brainstorming session last semester, she said.

“That [gun control] was the hot-button issue in December with the recent shootings,” Reynaga said.

Although she wished for more diversity in the opinions expressed, Reynaga deemed the discussion a success.

“I thought it turned out good,” she said.

The group discussed background checks, semi-automatic weapons, and high-capacity ammunition clips. Students had 15 minutes to discuss each topic, and then had two minutes at the end of the event to offer solutions.

“I think as a nation, we’re not understanding of each other,” Reynaga said. “The ultimate goal was to have more respect for each other regardless of your opinions.”