Pubdate: Mon, 21 Feb 2011
Source: Daily Campus, The (Southern Methodist U, TX Edu)
Page: 4
Copyright: 2011 Student Media Company Inc.
Contact:  http://www.smudailycampus.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2728
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

THE DAILY CAMPUS EVALUATES PROGRESS IN DRUG POLICY OVER FOUR YEARS

Four years ago SMU was rocked by the deaths of sophomore Jacob 
Stiles, freshman Jordan Crist and senior Meaghan Bosch due to drugs 
and alcohol.

Amidst the sadness, many loudly criticized SMU's drug culture. It was 
this culture, they say, which contributed to the three deaths.

"Drugs are woven into the Greek system and the social fabric of the 
university," Bosch's father, Joseph Bosch, said.

Four years later, what has changed?

It's true that SMU has become more involved in efforts to curb and 
prevent drug and alcohol abuse. The Task Force on Substance Abuse 
Prevention delivered 30 recommendations to President R. Gerald 
Turner; 21 of those were accepted. Now the Task Force is called the 
Commission on Substance Abuse Prevention and Education.

Student Senate passed resolutions regarding medical amnesty and good 
Samaritan policies. These resolutions were then put into University 
policy. Campus leaders became TIPS trained.

SMU's student population has also changed. Gone are the students who 
choose between mutually exclusive options to either study or party. 
Today's students are much more well-rounded. They've got the resumes 
to prove it.

What we've noticed is that all of these efforts haven't put a dent in 
drug and alcohol use. SMU students used to choose between partying 
and studying.

Now they do both. The disconnect between the more academic-minded and 
the party-minded has all but dissolved. The notable increase in SAT 
scores and grades, while there is no visible decrease in partying proves this.

However, SMU's efforts have created more responsible students.

Whereas students of the past didn't always look out for their fellow 
partiers, today's students do. Today's students are also more open 
about their drug use. Many tell their parents of their activities.

This is certainly a change for the better, and we've got to hand it 
to SMU (as well as parents) for instilling a mentality of 
responsibility in students' minds.

But SMU's drug culture still remains. "Softer" drugs, such as 
marijuana, are no longer taboo to do or speak about. Rather, it is 
these that have become commonplace and common parlance.

Four years later, SMU has come a long way. There's still much to do.

The University should continue to work to lessen the presence of 
drugs and alcohol (and subsequent abuse of those products). The 
University should continue to educate students about personal 
responsibility and emergency training.

Above all, SMU shouldn't forget about Stiles, Crist and Bosch. Their 
deaths were tragic, and they spoke of a larger problem at this 
University. The dangers of substance abuse and a culture where drugs 
are the norm still remain even with a more responsibility-minded 
student population. These three students should forever remind SMU 
and its students that this issue has real and tragic consequences.

Four years later, we urge SMU to continue its efforts to change the 
campus drug culture.  
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake