Pubdate: Thu, 30 Aug 2012
Source: Times-Delphic (Drake U, Des Moines, IA, Edu)
Copyright: 2012 The Times-Delphic
Contact: http://www.timesdelphic.com/home/lettertotheeditor/
Website: http://www.timesdelphic.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4593
Author: Abby Bedore

DRUG VIOLATIONS ACROSS CAMPUS

On Sept. 1 2011, four Drake University students in Ross Hall were 
found in possession of marijuana.

Des Moines Police found medicine vials with marijuana and stems in 
them, pipes, glass jars containing marijuana, grinders, a one-hitter, 
a marijuana vaporizer, water bongs, several containers with marijuana 
residue and a scale, according to a Times-Delphic article.

The students were taken to the Polk County Jail. All four faced 
fines, court fees and university sanctions; some had previously been 
caught with marijuana on campus.

Although an extreme drug-related case, it started off a year that has 
seen large increases in marijuana usage at Drake.

Campus security responds to about 20 to 25 drug cases in an average 
calendar year. The fall 2011 semester alone, 23 students were 
involved in drug-related cases. Although the full academic year's 
cases have not yet been totaled, Director of Campus Security Hans 
Hanson estimates the number to be in the mid 30s. Of the drug cases, 
more than 90 percent were marijuana-related.

"We'll get one or two cases a year that go beyond marijuana, like 
illegal use of prescription drugs. We'll also get about one case of 
manufacturing or delivering, which is a much more serious case," 
Hanson said, "but most are just small cases of marijuana."

According to a survey released last May, the Partnership at 
Drugfree.org found that nearly 1 in 10 teens smoke marijuana 20 or 
more times a month.

Dean of Students Sentwali Bakari has also noticed a pattern of 
increased usage at Drake.

"I think marijuana is a trend on college campuses and always has been 
for years, even when I was in college," Bakari said. "Marijuana is 
not as big of an issue here at Drake as we see alcohol. But this 
year, compared to some other years, we have seen an increase."

Hanson has seen years with more drug-related calls than others in the 
past, too, but cannot give reasons for the increase.

"For whatever reason in the world it is, you'll get a class that 
comes through the system that is just a little more rowdy, just a 
little more druggy," Hanson said. "I can't give you a reason for 
that. It isn't about one high school coming in or another, it's just 
about the class."

Hanson also attributes the trend for increased marijuana usage to 
mixed messages from the government and media.

"If you're a student from a state that has a very liberal attitude on 
marijuana, you might just bring a little bit to campus thinking 
you're fine, but Iowa law says no," Hanson said.

Sixteen states and Washington, D.C., allow the use of medical 
marijuana. Similarly, continued dialogue in state and federal 
legislatures regarding legalizing marijuana has led many people to 
take relaxed views on usage. Seventy percent of Drake students come 
from out of state, and a small number are from states, such as 
Colorado, that have legalized the drug. However, according to the 
American College Personnel Association, college campuses are still 
required to follow the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, which 
bans drugs on any campus, regardless of state laws.

Students caught with marijuana while on campus face even greater 
consequences than people caught off Drake property.

"You're going to get a double whammy if you're a Drake student," 
Hanson said. "You're going to get charged by the Des Moines Police 
Department and under state law, whatever that particular case was, 
and you're going to get nailed by Sentwali."

Bakari administers sanctions based on the magnitude of the case, but 
he said the severity is greater for marijuana than underage students 
with alcohol.

"The fines are a little higher and the sanctions are a little 
stronger," Bakari said. "Students with alcohol might not be removed 
from the residence halls until their third or fourth offenses. With 
marijuana, we probably won't be as flexible."

Fo most small offenses, university sanctions include paying fines and 
writing reflection papers. Repeat or larger cases can lead to 
students being kicked out of residence halls or even expelled. Bakari 
said many students also go through the process of getting a lawyer to 
have the report expunged from their records, deal with court dates 
and fees and facing their parents.

Drake security calls the Des Moines police almost every time 
drug-related cases are called in. Hanson said it is easier for the 
police to seize the evidence than having it go through security.

Because possession of drug paraphernalia is a simple misdemeanor, 
police sanctions involve fines between $65 and $625 or up to 30 days 
in jail. Penalties increase with repeat offenses and can result in up 
to a $6,250 fine or two years jail time.

"It's a learning experience for them, and we don't see it again," 
Bakari said. "Or they are much more clever and thoughtful of what 
they're doing so they just don't do it around here."

Although the university and security take drug cases seriously, many 
students are indifferent on the issue.

Matt Moran, a news/internet and math major who graduated last spring, 
believes marijuana use should be up to the individual.

"I think if it doesn't affect their work, students should be able to 
use it," Moran said. "Police spend a lot of time and money on it when 
there are worse things going on in the world."

Moran knows students at Drake use marijuana, but they try to keep it quiet.

"It's a 'Don't ask, don't tell' thing," Moran said.

Conversely, senior LPS major Katie Bell has never seen marijuana or 
drug use on Drake's campus but, like Moran, does not believe the drug 
should be criminalized.

"I don't think it should be illegal," Bell said. "Obviously, college 
students do it all the time and I've never been affected by it."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom