Massachusetts News

When student organizers informed the administration about Charlton Heston’s visit to Brandeis University, they were informed they would have to pay for expensive security precautions, but by the time the event began, two metal detectors, one bomb-dog and fifteen police officers were not enough to maintain order inside or outside the building, according to Bryan Rudnick, one of the students.

He tells Massachusetts News that nearly one hundred security breaches occurred and the Acting Director of Public Safety, Ed Callahan, was not even on the campus for over an hour. The officers who were on hand were unaware of their responsibilities and thus chaos erupted, he says.

Demonstrators blocked guests from entering the building, intimidated them and refused to clear the area when asked, Rudnick says. All are violations of the university’s "Rights and Responsibilities Handbook."

According to Brandeis Senior Jim Couture, "I am appalled by the administration’s inaction. Although they forced us to pay a lot for security, people entered the building by evading the metal detectors." 

Administrators are now taking credit for Heston’s visit and for the expenses, says Couture. However, Heston was invited by Students for the Second Amendment club and Freedom Magazine, a student publication. "The administration made it clear that unless we paid for everything, Heston could not visit. After the media paid attention to the event, the University became willing to aid us only slightly and provided a small amount of money for the costs. The rest of the budget for the event was provided through student fees, Young America’s Foundation and the Massachusetts Gun Owners’ Action League," said Couture.