Actually, the sports program pays for itself. The Bank was built with donated funds.

Total construction costs for TCF Bank Stadium are $288.5 million, including site preparation and infrastructure improvements. The University is funding 52 percent of the cost with non-state dollars from a variety of sources, including private funds, parking revenues, student fees, and athletics department funds. The state of Minnesota will fund the remaining 48 percent of the cost, or $137.2 million.

SECTION III. POSSESSION OR CARRYING OF WEAPONS

No person, whether a student, employee, or visitor, shall possess or carry a weapon while on University property, except as authorized in Section IV of this policy.

Subd. 3. Visitors. Violation of this policy by a visitor shall result in a request to leave the University property, function, or event, as the case may be, and also may result in a written directive to remain off University property.

The bill would not affect the University of Minnesota, which enjoys considerable autonomy from state statutes under the Minnesota Constitution. The Board of Regents in 2003 banned weapons from all campuses and university-related events in reaction to the state law allowing adults to carry concealed guns.

3. POSTING. Why aren't MnSCU campuses posted?

The posting provisions of the MCPPA apply to private establishments; they do not apply to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Board Policy 5.21 and campus policies address the restrictions on firearms that apply to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

4. GUNS ON CAMPUS. Are guns allowed on MnSCU campuses?

Generally, firearms are prohibited on MnSCU campuses under Board Policy 5.21, but certain exceptions apply, in accordance with the MCPPA.

With limited exceptions, Board Policy 5.21 prohibits employees from carrying a pistol or other firearm on or off campus, while they are acting in the scope and course of their employment, whether or not they have a permit to carry a pistol. This does not apply to parking areas or parking facilities. Employees who are on MnSCU property outside the scope and course of their employment are treated as visitors.

MnSCU college or university students generally are prohibited from having any firearm on any property (facilities and land) that belongs to the MnSCU system, including all MnSCU college and university campuses and the Office of the Chancellor. This prohibition does not apply to students when they are not on MnSCU property.

Certain exceptions apply for approved academic or other purposes, and for licensed peace officers who are students or who work for a MnSCU college or university in a public safety capacity.

The MCPPA does not restrict visitors from carrying a pistol on campus or other MnSCU property if they have a lawful permit to carry and are not violating other requirements of the law.

Subpart C. Visitors.

1. Prohibition. Visitors are prohibited from possessing or carrying a firearm while on System property, except as otherwise provided in this policy.
2. Licensed peace officers. This policy does not apply to visitors who are licensed peace officers under Minnesota Statutes section 626.84, subd.1(c) (see related documents below).

[...]

Part 4. Exceptions.

Subpart A. Parking areas. This policy does not prohibit the lawful possession or carry of firearms in a parking area or parking facility.

Subpart B. Authorized uses. This policy does not prohibit:

1. Lawful possession or carry related to an academic use or use at a campus shooting range, such as law enforcement programs, approved in writing by the college or university president; or
2. Transport of an unloaded firearm directly between a parking area or parking facility and the location authorized for its use, or transport of an unloaded firearm directly between a parking area or parking facility and a storage facility provided by the college or university.
3. Possession or carry of a pistol by a visitor who has a lawful permit to carry a pistol pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 624.714, subd. 1a (see related documents below).

Nothing in this policy requires a college or university to provide storage facilities for employees' or students' weapons.