UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
THURSDAY
The Student Voice Since 1903
FEBRUARY 3, 2000
Dorm drug arrest costs students $220 By Mike Greer
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6 6 think pot should and will be legal in the next 20 years. But it's illegal now, which means that I was stupid and wrong to be in that situation," UCO senior Jacob Sowers
said. Sowers and roommate David Vicks were arrested in their dorm room for possession of marijuana Jan. 17. "When students are arrested, their arrest report is sent to student services," said Capt. Chris Wooldridge, spokesman for UCO Department of Public Safety (UCODPS). "First offense for a misdemeanor usually results in suspension from residence halls," said Jarrod Noftsger, assistant to the vice president for student services and chairman of the conduct committee. "Everything is situational, we're more open when the person is apologetic," Noftsger said. On the night Sowers and Vicks were arrested, Sowers claims they were not smoking. "We were at a place where people were smoking and when we got home, one of the RAs (residence assistants) smelled it on us and turned us in," Sowers said. UCODPS officers found a small quantity of marijuana in the room. The two were arrested, spent the night in the Edmond jail and each paid a $220 bond which counts as their fine. Security on and around UCO campus can be tight. "We have 14 certified officers plus volunteer student officers who aren't certified," Wooldridge said. "The majority of arrests are through the residence halls," Wooldridge said. UCODPS assigns an officer to patrol the dorms and University Commons areas five nights a week from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday are the only unpatrolled nights. Off-campus security gets even tighter. The city of Edmond employs 86 police officers and three canine units. This works out to about one officer per 800 residents. "The canine units are used for finding people, not for sniffing drugs. We never have and, as far as I know, we never will use them for that purpose," said Sgt. Griffin of the Edmond Police Department. "Most off-campus drug arrests in Edmond are from people who are pulled over or stopped for other reasons," Griffin said. After talking with the person, the police may find illicit drugs. "If it's 2 a.m. and someone's walking on the street it's our duty to stop and interview them," Griffin said. "Most drug arrests in Edmond are not related to UCO. UCO causes traffic and that's about it," Griffin said. Sowers, who organized a dorm cleanup to show penance for his actions is sincerely apologetic for the ordeal. "I'm totally guilty and I'm sorry. It makes no sense to have pot illegal, but I was wrong and I'm sorry." /1
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—Staff phot by Chieko Hara
UCO in the mist... Low temperatures in the early hours creates an ice crystal-filled fog on Tuesday morning creating the illusion of a sugar-coated campus. Murdaugh Hall and the Communications Building loom in the background.