Column: Students' concerns for drug policy
Wednesday, December 10, 2008; 12:00 AM
While Virginia Tech's Public Forum on Alcohol and Other Drug Policies flew under the CT's radar in the height of election coverage, students should be aware that policy proposals to change campus drug policies are soon to be reviewed.

On the panel, Dr. Christopher Flynn, director of Cook Counseling Center, pointed to the results of a study that found students who experiment with marijuana on a whole tend to be healthier and more well-adjusted than students who abstain completely. He warned that the university coming down so hard on marijuana use may have the effect of pushing a culture of alcohol abuse and he stated that it is odd that Tech is harder on marijuana than the criminal justice system. Flynn also worried that if laws are too strict they may deter students from seeking help and that our university policies may be having a parallel effect.

Vice President Ed Spencer said that Virginia Tech "probably has the most conservative judicial sanctions in Virginia and probably true among many of our peer institutions." He also said that most students going through the university's judicial system for drug offenses tend to be experimenting and chose to violate the policy, while students with severe drug problems tend to be the minority.

Frances Keene, director of Judicial Affairs, said in agreement that the majority of students they see are experimenting and have small amounts of marijuana. She said that while zero tolerance conveys a clear message to students, Tech is in the minority and she can think of only one other university having such harsh a penalty. Keene convenes a review committee that reviews University Policies for Student Life annually and may recommend possible changes and proposals in the spring.

Tom Brown, dean of students, made clear that the review committee can make recommendations but cannot simply change policy. These recommendations may be presented and voted on by the Board of Visitors, which holds final authority to enact university policies.

Many students came forward asking challenging questions. The vast majority of students came out in favor of a change of policy.

The main arguments in support of the current zero tolerance campus drug policy were that it is clear and sends a clear message to students, is justified since illicit drugs are prohibited for everyone when alcohol is prohibited only for those under the age of 21, is consistent in punishment and has a deterring effect because of its strictness.

If a zero-tolerance policy is clear and sends a clear message to students, does this imply that our three-strike alcohol policy, allowing for more discrepancy, is unclear and sends an unclear message to students?

Joe McFadden, president of the Graduate Student Assembly and co-sponsor the forum, made the point that campus drug policy states repeatedly that illegal drug use is incompatible with the goals of the university community.

While Tech faculty and employee policy allows employees caught with drugs two strikes -- the first referring the employee to a substance abuse counselor on condition for continued employment -- student policy does not. McFadden asked the panel whether this discrepancy is a double standard.

Under Tech's current drug policy, students caught drinking and driving often can go to class the next day while students merely caught possessing marijuana are suspended from the university for a full academic year.

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Posted by: A at Feb 24 I am a resident of WAJ and was recently busted for possession of MJ. I would like to say that the university policy on drugs does not affect the use of marijuana in dorms. Until I was busted a significant number of students on my hall (aprox 1/4 of the students) smoked in their rooms, some multiple times per day. The only thing my being busted has led to is students driving around blacksburg getting high. And while I disagree with their decision to drive under the influence of marijuana I can see why my friends would choose this option when faced with such harsh consequences. The policies need to change in order to make the campus and surrounding areas safer. I now face up to a year of probation under Virginia law and a year of suspension under VT policy. How does this system benefit anyone? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kris at Jan 31 I worked with a student from Yale over the summer and he told me that his friend at Yale was caught with marijuana 6 times and not suspended, only sent to a counselor each time. Surprisingly, many Ivy League universities and many other universities work under this paradigm. Virginia Tech has a lot of wiggle room under the law - which does not mandate punishment. VT's Director of Judicial Affairs tells me their is only one other university in the country with as harsh a penalty as VT (I need to remember to find out which one). My point is that we do need to organize and speak out at the General Assembly as you say, meanwhile, though, we are putting together this very incremental policy proposal and a Review Committee of administrators may make recommendations based of it this semester. We will also try to pass legislation to make these changes through every step of university governance. I hope you will be optimistic and join us in barking up the tree. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kris at Jan 31 @ Jason T- I hear your argument and I don't want to downplay the repercussions of drug abuse, although ask anyone who has gone through our penal system and they will be the first to say the criminal penalties are anything but simple. For first-time possession, offenders may be granted deferred disposition, meaning if they complete a variety of tasks from drug ed, rehab, fines, to community service, they can have their charges dropped. In this regard, our university should at least only give students deferred suspension, allowing them not to be suspended if they seek counseling. A study entitled "Zero Tolerance, Zero Evidence" shows that school exclusion is ineffective at changing a students' behavior and may have unintended consequences. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kris at Jan 31 I do agree that alcohol companies often take advantage of our irresponsibility. In Las Vegas I saw a billboard that read "Drink Healthy - Try Sangria Now with Fruit." This is need for regulation, not prohibition. If we legalized marijuana tomorrow, I'm sure their would be an increase in smoking - also a result of our irresponsibility for our personal health. This could be solved by instituting a regulation to only allow dispensaries/coffeeshops to sell marijuana in edible or vaporized form. Would people still smoke in private? Of course, but this regulation would probably do more for our public health than prohibition ever could. Lastly, red wine is full of antioxidants that are good for the heart and helps prevent blood-clot. Should we shun preventative nutraceuticals because they are mind-altering and can be addictive/harmful? Marijuana has several medicinal purposes as well. Maybe we should compare the rates of addiction and harm of marijuana to the rates of addiction and harm of High Fructose Corn Syrup. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kris at Jan 31 @ Jochebed- Arguing the morality of alcohol use (add cynicism toward Irish Catholic immigrants) is how we got Alcohol Prohibition. Crime went through the roof and it was aimed toward all of society, so we ended it. Drug prohibition is only aimed at the (large) minority of citizens using these drugs, and they adapt (hide it) or are cast out of dominant culture. So even though crime is through the roof and we often spend more on prisons then schools, we continue. America definitely has a fetish towards drugs, but what do you suggest we do. I suggest we incrementally increase personal responsibility. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kris at Jan 31 @ C- I'm very interested in hearing about your experience at Virginia Tech before there was a Zero Tolerance policy. While the early '70s were a different cultural ballpark and I'm sure VPI wasn't the only university with "cloudy" dorms, it is my experience that the Zero Tolerance drug policy lacks in "controlling" marijuana use. Over 9,000 current Virginia Tech students have reported using marijuana, while only about 20-30 are caught each year. I'm not sure how well our current policy is cutting down on use, but I know the nearly third of the student population who consumes marijuana may perceive a VT administration less just that would kick them out of school for a year while letting a student caught drinking and driving go to class the next day. I see the hands-off pre '89 approach as the thesis, Zero Tolerance as the antithesis, and synthesis will be recognizing drug use as social activity needing a sociological imagination to explain the solution: Counseling. Why would we hire counselors? Empowering students to take their health, for better or worse, into their own hands is what a counselor is for. Our current policy drags students down, we need a policy that picks students up. Flag Abuse
Posted by: C at Jan 15 I am glad the university has taken control of its campus. As freshman at VPI in the 1972-1973 school year I experienced what, at that time, was a seemingly hands-off approach by the administration. As a result, Lee Hall was a virtual Animal House and certainly not an academic environment. The halls of the building were often clouded with marijuana smoke, there was open-air dealing on the sidewalks out front, and the abundance of window fans operating in the dead of winter bore testament to the activities in many of the rooms. Returning after Christmas break I found that about a third of the students on out end of the floor did not return to finish the year. Students should be grateful that the university wants to provide a controled on-campus residential setting for the benefit of those who are serious about their educations and for those who are easily distracted. Anyone who want to use drugs or alcohol outside of the rules has plenty of options off campus. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Stewie at Jan 8 I am one cool dude Flag Abuse
Posted by: Jason T at Jan 6 That said, I do like the idea of a first offender reform program, as opposed to outright suspension. Your justifications seem completely reasonable. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Jason T at Jan 6 Kris, I appreciate your point. I guess what I mean is that as long as marijuana remains illegal, it is unlikely that VT will reform its policies. There are often repercussions beyond simple criminal penalties. People can lose jobs and ruin their livelihood by using drugs or being convicted of other crimes. While I agree that this may seem unjust in the case of marijuana, given the dubious nature of its dangers, especially relative to alcohol and even tobacco, I only meant to point out that the VT policy is hardly a unique one, and it would probably be barking up the wrong tree to expect them to proactively change prior to reform in legislation. I'm curious to look into whether universities in states that have decriminalized the drug have revised their policies. Flag Abuse
Posted by: steven miller at 12/26/08 I don't know about virginia tech's policy on drug abuse, but I have it from several pretty reliable sources that the tech PD looks the other way when it comes to underage student drinking....administration is afraid of upsetting mommy and daddy and cutting the flow of donations and football ticket sales. GO HOKIES! Flag Abuse
Posted by: Jochebed at 12/18/08 Kris, I'm not talking about legal or illegal. At whatever age, this society thinks that alcohol is an OK thing as long as you "drink responsibly"...so you can come back and drink again. Alcohol is a horrid life-destroying substance that I am glad I swore off of years ago. It is my ardent hope and prayer that none of my children ever let a drop of the devil's drink pass their lips in all their life. Their chances of avoiding death and disease and sexual immorality and rape will be far lower just by staying clear of alcohol. THAT is what I would like to hear people talk about - not legality. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kris at 12/17/08 Jochebed - Check out http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/2008/12/04/town_forum_discusses_university_drinking Whether it's changing alcohol policies or other drug policies, it's an uphill battle that separates the determined from the apathetic. The raised minimum drinking age to the arbitrary age of 21 has done nothing short of creating a "21 for 21" rite of passage, subverting the legitimate socialization of college student toward responsible use (think mixers with professors, 18 year olds paying $3/beer rather than $3/cup at bars where they can witness the long term effects of alcoholism on older drunks, etc.), and created a prohibition on adults aged 18-20 where almost everyone attending a kegger is an outlaw, the underaged, those providing the alcohol, and those witnessing the crime...thanks to prohibition, outlaws. I hope you will join Students for Sensible Drug Policy. We seek to unionize students again the arrogant oppression of drug prohibition and give you the support to make your voice heard. I am being completely honest when I say that if you don't stand up for yourself and your peers, no one will. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at 12/15/08 Like Daniel Tosh said, they should legalize marijuana, just so the stoners never have anything to talk about EVER AGAIN. Grow up and do coke like an adult. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Jochebed at 12/15/08 All the focus is just on legalizing illicit drugs. Alcohol use kills more people, and particularly more innocent people, every year than any illicit drug. Where's the outcry against that horrid substance? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kris at 12/10/08 While I agree with you that we should fight the absurdity of punishing for the possession of marijuana up to 30 days in jail and up to a $500 fine, Virginia Tech's policy of Zero Tolerance comes down in addition to state law, is not required by law, and is, as Dr. Flynn noted, even harsher since a year of suspension means losing thousands of dollars of tuition, thousands more in lost financial aid, and a year of what? Very likely staying in the Blacksburg apartment you have leased with only less responsibilities and activities to keep you preoccupied, and more time on your hands to do more drugs, often with other students. Drug use is almost always a social activity, so increase in one student's use may have the effect of increasing other students' use. The main point I wish to get across, that I hope the Review Committee will recognize, is the opportunity lost under current policy to guide students towards better health with treatment. Realizing that drug use is a social activity, giving first-time offenders treatment may have the effect of reducing drug use in the Virginia Tech community and would most certainly provide for more students caught with drugs going on to lead healthier lives with less problems of addiction. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Jason T at 12/10/08 If you want to fight something, go to the top and fight Virginia laws. Currently, marijuana possession is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, with a second offense a class 1 misdemeanor (one step below a felony). In light of this, the VT policy of suspension is commensurate with the state law. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Irina Alexander at 12/10/08 Great column Kris. Best of luck fixing VT's ridiculously detrimental policies. For anyone wondering, here's a link to VT's current drug policies: http://www.judicial.vt.edu/english.php Also, in response to the "legalize crack" comment, you might be interested in Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a group of cops who want to legalize all drugs. Here's their youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LayaGk0TMDc -Irina Alexander co-founder, VT-SSDP vice pres, UMD-SSDP Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at 12/10/08 So the policy is that if you get caught with dope you're out? It would be great if someone could post or link to the actual university policy. Flag Abuse
Posted by: rehab warrior at 12/10/08 there sould always be drug laws and plolcy on campus to protect the individual who wants a good clean learning enviorment Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at 12/10/08 Legalize crack! Legalize crack! Legalize crack? Anyone? A boy can dream...sigh. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at 12/10/08 A number of those San Diego students were SELLING drugs (though probably not all). That is considerably different than catching a couple of kids with a joint in their dorm room. Thos students selling drugs don't have the ethics necessary to be in any branch of law enforcement. Flag Abuse
Posted by: John Smith at 12/10/08 Did you all hear about the 77 students who were busted for drugs when the president of san diego state university worked with the drug enforcement agency for months doing sting operations and jottin down names. Then, once they had a large amount of names, busted these students. Some of whom were about to go into law enforcement. And i'm sure sdsu is drug free today because of it, right? how horrible. their ssdp chapter did a pretty good protest though. they set out 77 law chairs with graduation caps on them, made national news. these university presidents obviously don't care to help students, theyd rather just kick em out or bust em Flag Abuse
Posted by: Tried pot a few times... at 12/10/08 Yea, I tried pot a few times in my undergrad.. I honestly got dumber every time I did, so I stopped. Pot has been illegal for a long time, yet the drug continues to be a problem. It's never made sense to me why the government (or college) tries to protect me from myself, and this is a perfect example. I mean, perhaps we should make it illegal to eat a 2000 calorie meal, too, since it could make me fat? And making things illegal (banning them) doesn't make them go away, either. But all in all, VT has been called out (AGAIN) for being ridiculous with their policies, in this case holding a double standard. Bravo to Joe McFadden for that one. Flag Abuse






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