Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
When parents of incoming freshmen hear about Virginia Tech's zero-tolerance drug policy at orientation, they often stand and applaud.
But that policy, which automatically suspends students for any illegal drug violation, was the subject of frequent criticism by students and sometimes frank critique by administrators at a forum Tuesday night.
About 70 students and a few faculty turned out for the discussion, hosted by the Virginia Tech chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, the Student Government Association and the Graduate Student Assembly at Tech's Haymarket Theater.
Kristopher Reinertson, president of Tech's chapter of SSDP, organized the forum to discuss what he sees as the university's imbalanced policy of zero tolerance for drug violations but a three-strike policy for alcohol violations. He favors a "diversion" policy in which first-time offenders of the drug policy could remain in school by agreeing to undergo an evaluation and treatment.
"Alcohol is a drug," he said. "I think by having these policies separate confuses students."
The policy was established by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors in 1989 and the administrators at the forum -- Dean of Students Tom Brown; Chris Flynn, director of Tech's Cook Counseling Center; Frances Keene, director of judicial affairs; and interim Vice President for Student Affairs Ed Spencer -- were clear to point out that they could not change the policy.
They at times defended the reasons Tech has what Spencer referred to as "the most conservative judicial sanction in Virginia," for illegal drugs. But they also admitted that there was plenty of room for criticism of it.
"It's odd to me that Tech is harder on marijuana than the criminal justice system," Flynn said.
There were 29 cases of students being suspended as part of the zero-tolerance policy last year. Keene said her office handles about 1,500 alcohol violation cases a year -- about half its caseload. The administrators admitted that alcohol poses a bigger problem on campus than drug use, but stopped short of advocating a change in policy.
Students are made aware of the policies and -- like them or not -- if they choose to violate them, they have to face the consequences, Spencer said. He said he sees the proposal to add another warning for students found with illegal drugs as an unnecessary "get out of jail free card."
But Tech student Chad Van Alstin called the current automatic suspension of at least two semesters "draconic."
"If it really is to help and benefit the students, then, expelling them? It doesn't make any sense," he said.
Four students, part of a group of about 20 cadets at the forum, spoke out in full support of the university's policies. Some questioned the mind-set of students who would break the law and complain about the punishment for breaking policies they were well aware of.
"We here at Virginia Tech are students who have all graduated from high school ... we've already learned the laws, we've already learned the rules in high school," said cadet James Orr.
As the conversation drifted toward the social stigma of marijuana and the gray lines of acceptable alcohol consumption, Flynn -- a self-described "child of the '60s" -- admitted that confusion and disagreement about drug use has been a long struggle.
"Our culture's not clear about it," he said. "We tend to be a microcosm of a greater society that is not clear on this issue."
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Roanoke.com
Author: Greg Esposito
Copyright: 2008 Roanoke.com
Contact: Roanoke.com
Website: Forum addresses Tech's zero-tolerance drug policy
But that policy, which automatically suspends students for any illegal drug violation, was the subject of frequent criticism by students and sometimes frank critique by administrators at a forum Tuesday night.
About 70 students and a few faculty turned out for the discussion, hosted by the Virginia Tech chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, the Student Government Association and the Graduate Student Assembly at Tech's Haymarket Theater.
Kristopher Reinertson, president of Tech's chapter of SSDP, organized the forum to discuss what he sees as the university's imbalanced policy of zero tolerance for drug violations but a three-strike policy for alcohol violations. He favors a "diversion" policy in which first-time offenders of the drug policy could remain in school by agreeing to undergo an evaluation and treatment.
"Alcohol is a drug," he said. "I think by having these policies separate confuses students."
The policy was established by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors in 1989 and the administrators at the forum -- Dean of Students Tom Brown; Chris Flynn, director of Tech's Cook Counseling Center; Frances Keene, director of judicial affairs; and interim Vice President for Student Affairs Ed Spencer -- were clear to point out that they could not change the policy.
They at times defended the reasons Tech has what Spencer referred to as "the most conservative judicial sanction in Virginia," for illegal drugs. But they also admitted that there was plenty of room for criticism of it.
"It's odd to me that Tech is harder on marijuana than the criminal justice system," Flynn said.
There were 29 cases of students being suspended as part of the zero-tolerance policy last year. Keene said her office handles about 1,500 alcohol violation cases a year -- about half its caseload. The administrators admitted that alcohol poses a bigger problem on campus than drug use, but stopped short of advocating a change in policy.
Students are made aware of the policies and -- like them or not -- if they choose to violate them, they have to face the consequences, Spencer said. He said he sees the proposal to add another warning for students found with illegal drugs as an unnecessary "get out of jail free card."
But Tech student Chad Van Alstin called the current automatic suspension of at least two semesters "draconic."
"If it really is to help and benefit the students, then, expelling them? It doesn't make any sense," he said.
Four students, part of a group of about 20 cadets at the forum, spoke out in full support of the university's policies. Some questioned the mind-set of students who would break the law and complain about the punishment for breaking policies they were well aware of.
"We here at Virginia Tech are students who have all graduated from high school ... we've already learned the laws, we've already learned the rules in high school," said cadet James Orr.
As the conversation drifted toward the social stigma of marijuana and the gray lines of acceptable alcohol consumption, Flynn -- a self-described "child of the '60s" -- admitted that confusion and disagreement about drug use has been a long struggle.
"Our culture's not clear about it," he said. "We tend to be a microcosm of a greater society that is not clear on this issue."
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Roanoke.com
Author: Greg Esposito
Copyright: 2008 Roanoke.com
Contact: Roanoke.com
Website: Forum addresses Tech's zero-tolerance drug policy
