Some students wore empty holsters on campus this week to support carrying concealed handguns on campus.
The demonstration was a national event organized by the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus from Monday to Friday.
While the holsters did not violate any state laws, the holsters could send mixed messages to other students and faculty, said Capt. Jeff Holcomb, spokesman for the University Police Department.
Deans were notified of the demonstration by e-mail, and then it was up to them to forward the message on to the faculty, said Steve Orlando, UF spokesman.
"We wanted the faculty to know in case it was in the classroom," he said. "There have been lots of protests and demonstrations, and we can't send out an announcement for all of them all of the time."
There have been no complaints filed, according to UPD.
Some students, however, were not aware of the protest, and they stared questioningly at other students with empty holsters.
But some students reported seeing demonstrators with holsters who were wearing T-shirts that explained what they were doing, Orlando said
Patricia Telles-Irvin, UF's vice president for student affairs, said the Virginia Tech shootings are still on people's minds.
"This year has been quite unusual and tragic," she said. "Everyone is still somewhat concerned, but we have to continue to operate UF as normal as possible."
Holcomb said if anyone had dressed inappropriately or worn a trench coat for the weeklong protest, they would have been approached by law enforcement.
"However, an empty holster is no different than an extra piece of clothing or accessory," he said. "It's like adding a purse. It's not against the law."
The protest's news release referred to the Virginia Tech shootings, when a student with two handguns had "one distinct advantage over his victims."
Emily DiPietro, a UF marketing junior, said, "I don't believe that people should be allowed to carry weapons on campus, because if it becomes commonplace, how are we supposed to spot the anomaly?"
