Pubdate: Thu, 03 Oct 2002 Source: Salisbury Post (NC) Copyright: 2002 Post Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.salisburypost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/380 A CLEAR MESSAGE When Catawba College officials say no drugs on campus, they mean no drugs on campus. Acting on a tip from students, college security officers found small amounts of marijuana and cocaine in a dorm room. The college suspended two students, expelled another and told a campus visitor not to come back. Incidents like this may happen at area colleges more than the public will ever know. According to police, colleges handle minor incidents in-house. They want to be discreet. But public knowledge about incidents such as this could help Catawba in the long run. It proves to the community, to parents and to students that the college will take decisive action against students who violate its policies. No one is looking the other way. This goes well beyond putting soft drinks on freshmen's beds and warning that this is the only kind of six-pack they're allowed to have on campus. It puts swift, sure action behind high-minded words. That may be the best deterrent of all. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom