School officials warn of the serious trouble drug use can cause for students.
Director of Public Safety Jerry Roderick said there have been several arrests for drug use on campus this year.
He said while that is not unusual, it is concerning.
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Sarah Feyerherm said the Honor Board dealt with eight drug cases last year, all marijuana related, and there was one hold-over case from last year and a few pending cases this year.
Feyerherm said the policy to have local law enforcement handle drug related incidents was not a decision made by the school.
“That was decided by the local law enforcement and the State’s Attorney,” said Feyerherm, who added that the policy started in the 2007-2008 academic year. “We didn’t change any policy but Public Safety had to change their protocol.”
Roderick said one reason the change makes sense is that once narcotics are seized, the recordkeeping has to be done very carefully. He said often times material has to be tested to determine what drug it is. Now, with the new policy, Public Safety no longer has to do this and they instead utilize the Chestertown Police’s resources to handle evidence and testing.
While this is easier for Public Safety, Feyerherm said making drug related incidents a police investigation has made it tricky from a college judicial standpoint. She said it is also disruptive to bring police on campus and it changes the campus experience.
Feyerherm, who coordinates the campus Honor Board, said that the students who are arrested for drug use and their attorneys request that the school hold off their Honor Board hearing until after the criminal trial has taken place: the police could subpoena the Honor Board records, which is a bad position for the student and the honor board. She said because of this, they heard a case this fall for an incident that happened last fall.
“That’s not ideal. It’s best if [the hearing] is done in a fairly timely matter,” said Feyerherm.
For drug related cases, it is not uncommon for the Honor Board to suggest suspension of a student who has been criminally charged. If it is a first time offense, the Honor Board may just suggest probation for possession or for the discovery of paraphernalia. She said repeat offenders are given more serious disciplinary measures. Though the drug incidents usually occur on campus, Feyerherm said it is in the Honor Board’s jurisdiction to hear cases that occur off campus also.
Feyerherm said that the graduation requirements do not specify that students be in good judicial standing to graduate, which concerned the Honor Board last year. She said though the Honor Board is not actively trying to change that at this time, it is something it would like to look into.
“It is a good idea institutionally to have such a policy,” said Feyerherm.
President Baird Tipson said he thinks anything to make it clear that drug use is serious is a good thing and that hopefully the policy will discourage people from casually experimenting with drugs.
Tipson said before he came to Washington College, there was a serious drug bust on campus, so we are not immune to outside agencies coming on to campus as a college community.
“Students have no special protection from the law,” said Tipson. He added that he also does not like the 21-year-old drinking age, but it is the law, so students should abide by it.
Feyerherm said the policy makes it clear to the community that this is exactly what happens when students get caught with drugs. Roderick said once the police are called, it is their investigation, which opens students up to a whole different arena.
Feyerherm said the policy, however, makes it feel or seem like there are more drug incidents than there are. She said it is more visible because the police come on campus.
Roderick said it is hard for Public Safety to get good information that would target them into the areas where drug use is going on.
In drug related cases, Roderick said Public Safety handles the initial investigation and the CPD works with them. The school reviews the case then Public Safety steps out of the case unless the CPD needs more of assistance.
“They give it to the local narcotics task force,” said Roderick.
Roderick said he is not sure where the drugs are coming from. He said when students engage in this sort of activity, they are usually identified quickly.
“It is a quick way to throw away your college opportunity by getting involved with the drug world,” said Roderick.
Roderick said there have been no life threatening drug related incidents this year.
“We’re always concerned about the drug use on campus,” said Roderick.
Feyerherm said she is not sure if the policy is a deterrent factor for students.
“For some people it could be, but it’s like anything else–you never think you’re going to get caught,” said Feyerherm.
“I think it’s important for students to understand what is going to happen when they get caught with drugs or paraphernalia,” said Feyerherm.
Feyerherm said the charges take up a lot of time and money and involve a huge legal process. She said it hurts career opportunities later, often limiting jobs in the legal field, military, law enforcement, high-level clearance jobs, and teaching fields.
Tipson also said that it goes on students’ records, so they have to realize that things they do here follow them around, especially because of Internet sites.
Feyerherm said most of the education about drugs revolves around alcohol. She said marijuana and prescription pills are not huge problems on campus, but the school needs to look at addressing and better educating the student body of the effects of those drugs because the problem exists.
“It’s important that [students] know all the implications, health, legal, and others,” said Feyerherm.
Tipson said marijuana is considered a recreational drug, but a certain percentage of people get started and cannot stop using it.
Feyerherm said that alcohol is still the root cause of most behavioral issues on campus and is more of a primary concern than drugs because a lot of violence can stem from it.
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