Very simple, zero tolerance

by John Del Sordo

staff writer

Cabnm College commits itself to curb underage drinking. Many students, however, chose to drink illegally.

The rules are clear. The state of Pennsylvania states that the legal drinking age is 21 and public safety enforces that law accordingly. In addition to not bemg permitted to consume alcoholic beverages underage, students of age are not permitted to supply alcohol to minors.

Charles Schaffner, Director of Public Safety

While our campus is not a dry one, students and their guests are still not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages in public areas, no matter what age they are. And, "kegs and common containers are not permitted in the residence balls," according to Public Safety's Policies and Procedures. Rules will be broken. And in these events, students will face the consequences of their actions.

When a citation bas been given and a case number bas been assigned, it is turned over to the Residence Life office and David Carpenter, the director of residence life.

Carpenter admits that be is "not a court of law" but that it is the school's responsibility to "create a healthy educational environment."

The Student Handbook also offers detailed guidelines for student's to follow in the case of drinking.

The policy perhaps most difficult for students to understand is

"constructive possession." When "a situation where the illegal or unauthorized possession or use of alcohol or drugs exists," the handbook states. "Everyone in an area can be charged with 'constructive possession' and all individuals may be held liable for the violation." So while a student may not have been drinking or in possession of alcohol at the time, simply being in the room where the alcohol policy bas been violated may land them a citation.

When a case reaches Carpenter's desk, he assigns an RD to investigate it. Once the RD has determined if the student has violated the policy, the student has two options. He or she can accept the sanctions given or he or she can appeal in writing to Carpenter.

The possible sanctions that a student faces are listed in the handbook on pages 39 and 40.

In the years past, the seventh sanction listed has been used very little but Carpenter anticipates that this year it will be used a great deal. Students now must face the possibility of having the school notify their parents or guardians in the event they have broken the rules. The reason for this, according to Carpenter, is that frequently in the past he has beard from unhappy parents who had no idea that their child had been in trouble multiple times and was suddenly suspended, expelled, etc.

Carpenter wants students to take responsibility for their actions. He said, "With freedom comes responsibility."

According to a new report from Harvard School of Public Health researchers, recent marijuana use among U.S. college students rose from 12.9 percent to 15.7 percent between 1993 and 1999, an increase of 22 percent. With side effects ranging from mood alteration, to the destructi?n of major brain cells, the damage that marijuana can potentially inflicts on college students can easily be seen. Colleges across the United States, both private and public, have begun to take more serious action against drug offenders in hope that all students will eventually get the message. At Cabrini College, in Radnor, PA, things are no different. The college clearly states in its student handbook, that Cabrini College is concerned with illegal and unauthorized marijuana use, and views it as detrimental to the achievement of institutional and individual goals. Unless, if an individual's goal is to get high;tben this does not apply. Illegal_manJuana use on campus is being addressed by Cabrini College's Public Safety Department. This department will show zero tolerance when dealing with the presence of marijuana.

Cab~i College also enforces a constructive possession policy. As s~ted m the stude.~thandbook, in a situation where the illegal possession or use of manJuana exists, everyone in an area can be charged with "constructive possession," and all individuals may be held liable for the violation. However, bow can one be sure that marijuana is present? Toe presence of the odor of marijuana, verified by two or more College staff members is considered evidence of drug use. Although these staff members are no drug-sniffing German Sbepards, they are trained to be able to identify the scent and appearance of marijuana. If marijuana is suspected or present, with full respect for a student's right to privacy the student's residence hall room may be searched by a College Offici:U. ~en a stude_ntis found guilty of breaking the college's marijuana policy, the Public Safety department will properly cite that student. If a student found guilty lives on campus, after being cited, the residence life department will determine whether eviction is necessary. In most cases, the student will be evicted, and banned from all residence halls for ~e_remainder of the college year. Students must keep in mind that Cabnru College does not take illegal drugs lightly, and the Public Safety Department will enforce the marijuana policy to its fullest extent. When Director of Public Safety Charles E. Shaffner was asked how he :,voul_ddescribe Cabrini College's current marijuana policy, and bow it 1s bemg enforced, he replied, "Very Simple, Zero Tolerance."

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