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Thursday, May 6, 1999 - Page 2 NEWS Drugs Continued/rom page / was asked if he thought that increased drug Kane personally felt that, "From a hear- had a Survey reveals drug use among arrests at WMC meant that drug use had in- ing officer's standpoint, r find sanctions help- creased here. "I'd say this year we've ful. They give me an idea of how the com- few more calls than normal. The number of WMC's first year students munity feels. These guidelines help ,emove users is a small handful," he said. He added, personal judgment." "Most of them are connected with each other "On the other hand," he said, "it's not in some way. A small handful shouldn't re- Nearly one-third of WMC freshmen juana in the past month. These drugs in- getting talked about,_ like the Honor Code, flect in a negative manner upon the campus have smoked pot according to a Decem- clude hallucinogens such as LSD, psilo- so you wonder if it's effective." itself." ber 1998 survey of first year students ad- cybin (mushrooms), ecstasy, and PCP; Webster concurred. "There are certain ministered by Dr. Lauren Dundes and amphetamines such as speed, crystal meth, groups more likely to go to church, or get a Bonnie Bosley of Health Services. and Rittalin; and opiates such as heroine "There have been only Out of a class of332 students, 265 re- and opium. two or three repeat percent admitted Thirty-two It is important "/f there are more arrests, sponded. pot in the past year, and 21 per- to tics do not necessarily to note that these statis- offenses in the last couple smoking represent drug use is it because of greater cent have used marijuana in the past on the campus at large due to the size and of years, so the policy to the survey. according enforcement or greater month, Fifteen percent of respondents reported nature of the sample, as only freshmen seems to be effective ... According were polled. to Dr. Dundes, substance use? My gut feeling is that using another controlled eight percent within those who did take the survey probably That the police are called the past year, while stated it isn't use. " that they have used drugs other than mari- under reported due to the subject matter. -Text by Julie Develin shows that we take this -President Chambers and Matthew Thomas seriously, " 3.0, or engage in recreational marijuana use." Scott Kane, The supposed drug dealer disagreed. He Of the campus's out. He added, "A Director of Residence life told The Phoenix, "People from all groups drug policy, Director third offense car- do drugs. There is no one clique. Usually one of Residence Life The following "O"Q~;"<:';:";"'" ries as a minimum person will buy for Honors, ROTC, frats and Scott Kane told The for drug abuse violations are expulsion." Kane concluded by saying, "There have sororities." He added, "As for drug use in- Phoenix, "We don't compiled from reports to tbe Those are mini- been only two or three repeat offenses in the creasing, when I got here, people were seIl- have rigid guide- Department of Campus safety. mums, though. last couple of years, so the policy seems to ing a lot; when I leave, other people will sell lines for certain vio- Kane was quick to be effective." a lot." lations. Drug viola- note that the mini- "That the police are called shows that we WMC President Robert Chambers, inter- tions have minimum mum sanctions, take this seriously," said Kane. viewed before the supposed drug dealer sanctions, though. A formed in conjunc- President Chambers said, "We cannot, and made his allegations, isn't convinced that first offense carries a tion with SGA, do not, encourage lawbreaking on campus." drug use on campus is up significantly. $150 fine, 3 hours were written with The self-proclaimed drug dealer has no "If there are more arrests, is it because of community service, the understanding plans of stopping sales, though. "I have more greater enforcement or greater use? My gut and parental notifi- that the minimums opportunity than time," he said. feeling is that it isn't use." cation. A second of- were for low-level He's focusing on getting his GPA up this Despite WMC's zero tolerance drug fense carries a mini- drug offenses. The semester. It' s hovering around a 3.0, and he policy, which requires Campus Safety to in- mum $300 fine and alleged drug dealer would like to graduate with a 'B' average. form the police immediately of suspected removal from cam- would almost cer- "I'm not trying to be cocky," he said. "I'm a drug activity on campus, the dealer claims pus housing." And tainly face harsher student first, and a drug dealer second." dozens of customers in the last year. three strikes, you're penalties if caught. Students debate drug use Campus clean-up beautifies WMC The first story in The Phoenix's two-part series titure and Honors Convocation ceremony, BY MEGAN MARTIN students also tied ribbons to the trees outside on drug use at WMC Editor-In-Chief Big Baker. A handful of sleepy students spent Sun- In the past, there has been more work for While that may be true, junior philoso- day morning, May 2, working around cam- students. In addition to this year's activities, BV JULIE DEVEUN AND MATTHEW THOMAS phy major Chandra Westergaard said, "It pus as part of the SGA's annual Campus SlajfWriler)' past Clean-ups have included trimming trees happens but if you are not part of a group Clean-up event. Approximately 20 students and shrubbery, painting fire hydrants and In light of the recent drug arrests here on that does it, you don't recognize that it hap- spent the hours between 8 am and 1I am curbs, sweeping leaves and trash, recycling, campus, one wonders, is there a drug prob- pens. If it's not in your face you don't think preparing the campus for Senior Investiture and planting trees. Most of this work was lem at Western Maryland College? Ask a stu- about it. It depends on your opinion," she and Honors Convocation, graduation, and done prior to the Board of Trustees's April dent and he or she will probably say no. said. "keeping the campus we live on ... beauti- meeting and the campus concert. Gribbin also However, while they may say there is no ful," according to SGA Vice President and notes that Phil Boob and physical plant keep problem, most agree that drugs, especially "I don't think there is a President-Elect Matthew Gribbin. the WMC "looking nice" all year long. marijuana, are readily available to those who In its fourth year, Campus Clean-up is Since most of the work usually done dur- pursue them. problem. I think designed to get students and student groups ing Campus Clean-up was completed prior Agroup ofWMC students told The Phoe- to work together "with and for the campus," to the event, SGA did little advertising, and nix that the recent drug arrests do not neces- [authority figures at said Gribbin. The event is supposed to build Gribbin and SGA secretary Dana Jacobson sarily reflect a problem in their eyes. WMC] are being uptight. community spirit while beautifying the cam- blame low attendance on this. As of April 29, "I think it's blown out of proportion," said pus. he said, SGA was not even sure Campus sophomore communication major Lauren I think they're ove r- While attendance was low this year, most Clean-up would take place this year. Henry. "Certain people do drugs, but that years attendance is about 80 to 90 people, "We'd like to get ideas and participation doesn't mean the whole campus does." focusing and searching there was enough work to go around. Teams from [more] students," Gribbin commented. An English major from Gaithersburg, [users] out." of two traveled to the residence halls to "Considering the number of people ... [the MD, who wished to remain anonymous, check on recycling bins and transport event] was successful," Jacobson said. agreed. "I don't think there is a problem, I Anonymous student recyclables to the recycling center. After- Gribbin agreed: What needed to be done was think [authority figures at WMC] are being wards, students ventured into Red Square to done." uptight," she said. "I think they're over fo- pick up cigarette butts and other trash. Besides increasing publicity for next year, cusing and searching [users] out." The opinion of most students may be that The rest of the morning was spent on the ideas for more activities for Clean-up day are Senior Tokx Okorie, a resident assistant; any idea of a drug problem on campus is over campus grounds. Students split off to paint being sought. agrees that the idea of a drug problem is exaggerated. What do those responsible for speed bumps, to plant flowers in front of Old While the new SGA is looking for more blown out of proportion. "I don't think this enforcing the drug policy on campus think? Gill, outside Rouzer, in front of Smith house, student participation and input on all aspects is a drug zone," he said. He added, "I be- See the next issue of The Phoenix for an- and around Red Square, and to water the of campus life, Gribbin hopes that Campus lieve a lot of students smoke marijuana but swers to that question as well as statistics newly planted sod in Red Square. In con- Clean-up especially will continue to be a big not on campus." and analysis. junction with the afternoon's Senior Inves- deal among the students.