Texas on Monday became the eighth state to let students carry guns on public college campuses.

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that the University of North Texas has incorporated concealed carry into its orientation process. The school plans to examine what the law allows and where on campus guns will be off limits.

The school took to Facebook and Twitter to explain the new law to its 37,000 students, stressing that "Campus Carry is not Open Carry." Despite the law, concealed handguns are still prohibited at sporting events, places of worship, polling places on election day, medical clinics, buildings that service children and various laboratories.

In an awkward coincidence, the change became effective 50 years to the day of the Texas Clock Tower sniper, when a shooter atop a 300-foot tower killed 14 people and wounded 31 more at the University of Texas at Austin.

Most of the university's public outreach on Monday was in remembrance of the tragedy, rather than informing students and faculty of the new concealed carry rules. The school, with more than 50,000 students, sent an email on July 29 about the new rules to all students but didn't send any new information on Monday.

The University of Houston sent an email to its 41,000 students about the legal changes and added 1,000 signs designating areas on campus where concealed carry is still not allowed.

Concealed carry on campus sparks heated debates among gun control advocates and opponents. Advocates argue that accidents or fights could happen while a concealed gun holder is drunk, or angry students might confront professors or ex-lovers with a gun.

Opponents argue that concealed handguns can help cut would-be mass-shootings short and would allow otherwise defenseless females to scare away rapists or other attackers. In theory, there might be fewer heated confrontations as angry students worry about whether their opponent has a gun.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 18 states ban students from having a concealed weapon on campus, while 23 states leave the decision up to each college or university. Arkansas and Tennessee allow some faculty members to carry concealed weapons, but don't give students the same right.

Despite the changes, Gregory Fenves, president of the University of Texas at Austin, says one thing is remains the same. "If you see a gun, call the police," Fenves said. "That has not changed."

Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.