Starting in August, KU Athletics will ban all purses from football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball games and other major sporting events.
If it’s larger than a typical clutch bag and opaque, it won’t be allowed into big games.
Anything else Jayhawk fans carry will have to be in a clear plastic bag no larger than 12-by-12 inches.
"We, like the many entities who have instituted this policy, believe that it will promote safety and make entry into the venues more expeditious for our fans," says Athletics spokesman Jim Marchiony.
Purses will also be banned from soccer, baseball and softball games, according to KU Athletics.
Getting into football and basketball games could be slowed anyway as KU starts screening fans with metal detectors and armed guards at both Allen Fieldhouse and Memorial Stadium.
KU is tightening security in response to a state law that will allow almost anyone over age 21 to carry a concealed gun on Kansas campuses come July 1.
Kansas State and Wichita State are also planning on keeping guns out of sporting events with more than 5,000 fans. In Manhattan that means football and basketball. At Wichita State that means basketball and some baseball games.
Sam Zeff covers education for KCUR and the Kansas News Service and is co-host of the political podcast Statehouse Blend Kansas. Follow him on Twitter @SamZeff. Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished at no cost with proper attribution and a link back to KCUR.org.
