Pubdate: Mon, 13 Nov 2006
Source: Daily Times (Pakistan)
Copyright: 2006 Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2893
Author: Afnan Khan

UNIVERSITY ISSUES WARNINGS ON DRUG USE ON CAMPUS

LAHORE: The use of drugs at a private university has  worried its 
administration, prompting it to put up  notices warning students 
against using narcotics on  campus, Daily Times has found. One such 
notice put up  early this month says students found using, buying, 
selling or possessing drugs on campus would be thrown  out.

Several students said the administration had noted the  frequent use 
of drugs among students and that was why  it was taking this action. 
One Masters' level student  said the administration had in the past 
couple of weeks  found rolling papers and other paraphernalia in bins 
and classrooms.

Another group of students said that although drugs were  common in 
society, it was unnerving to see students  using it on campus. They 
said they supported the  administration's decision to warn students 
against  using drugs and to expel them if caught with drugs.  "Boys 
and girls need to have character. Drugs are for  losers. Anyone can 
do drugs. They're not hard to find  or buy, but saying no to them is 
what makes a person  cool. Students using drugs on campus reflects on 
their parents and their character as well. Even if a person  is a 
loser and wants to do drugs, using them on campus  is not right. This 
is very un-cool and I am very  disappointed," said one student. The 
university's  registrar said the administration had taken the action 
as a "precautionary measure" and had banned the sale,  purchase, 
usage or possession of drugs to keep the  campus 'clean'.

There were no reports of drug use yet, the registrar  said, adding, 
"The university has adopted a no  tolerance policy against drugs to 
keep students away  from them. I have recommended the names of two 
students  to the discipline committee and one of them is likely  to 
be expelled. These students were not doing hard  drugs on campus, but 
were caught smoking." The  registrar said the vice chancellor had 
personally  ordered the ban and warning on drugs. "We don't want to 
be tough on students. However, we are taking this  measure for their 
good. Also, someone dented my car  after this issue came up, but I 
doubt the incident is  related to the university's stance against drugs."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine