The same week, Northeastern University announced it would arm its campus police force with semiautomatic rifles in case of emergency.

Boston.com reports.

One Mass. college has eliminated its entire police force

The same week Northeastern University announced it would arm its campus police force with semiautomatic rifles in case of emergency, another Massachusetts college decided to eliminate campus police officers altogether.

Dean College, a small liberal arts school in Franklin, Mass., notified its 18-person police force December 7 that their positions would be terminated December 18 and replaced by staff from a private security firm. The officers had just announced their plan to unionize, and, in accordance with federal law, their attorney Scott Dunlap said he notified the college’s president, Paula Rooney, of this intent at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4.

But on Monday, Dec. 7, the officers received an email that they’d be terminated December 18. TeamOps, the security firm, would assume operations the same day, Dunlap said.

“It’s clear the college is afraid of the organization of police officers,” he said. “Having a union just means they want to improve working conditions in a collective setting.”