US varsity allows Sikh students to wear 'Kirpan' on campus
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New York: Amid the debates following the Hijab row in India, whether to allow wearing religious symbols in educational institutions or not, the University of North Carolina, one of the top varsity in US updates its policies to allow Sikh students to wear a kirpan, a religious expression of faith, on campus.
The change of the 'Weapons on Campus' policy comes about two months after a Sikh student at the university was arrested on campus for wearing the ceremonial dagger.
The updated policy allows the students to wear kirpans on campus as long as the blade length is under 3 inches and is "worn close to the body in a sheath at all times".
On evaluation, it said that other religious accommodations, including a request to wear a larger kirpan will be considered by the Office of the Civil Rights and Title IX.
"The Office of Diversity and Inclusion, with support from Institutional Integrity, also conducted additional awareness training this week with our police department and will continue its work to expand our cultural education and training opportunities for all of campus," a university statement, released this week, read.
In its statement, the university thanked Sikh leaders, including nonprofit organisations, The Sikh Coalition and the Global Sikh Council, who provided expertise and perspective to help with the policy change.
"We will continue to use this incident as an opportunity for learning and growth for our community," said the statement, signed by Chancellor Sharon L Gaber and Chief Diversity Officer Brandon L Wolfe.
The matter first came to light when the student uploaded a video on Twitter and said that the police had handcuffed him for refusing to let the officer remove his kirpan.
The video, which was seen by more than 21,00,000 people, amassed 56,000 likes and several comments in support on social media.
The amritdhari, or baptized, Sikhs are required to carry five articles of the faith, kesh (uncut hair), kara (steel bracelet), kanga (small comb), kachera (undershorts) and a kirpan (resembling a knife or sword).
-IANS with Inputs
