University of Virginia Library

University Dope Policies

With the arrival of state narcotics agents
who are determined to curtail widespread
drug use in Charlottesville, groups responsible
for various spheres of discipline at the
University are in the process of re-evaluating
their policies in regards to student use of
illegal drugs. Among them is the
Inter-Fraternity Council which is trying to
frame a proposal which would "encourage"
individual houses to police themselves.

Not only do we oppose any University
sanctions against fraternities which are
engaging in this form of illegal activity, we
disagree with the general University policy
which states that "students at the University,
who engage in illegal possession, use,
manufacture, or distribution of drugs may be
suspended or asked to withdraw from the
University." We believe that these violations
of criminal law are solely the province of state
and federal law enforcement agencies, not
under the purview of the Executive
Committee of Counselors, the IFC, the
Alderman Road Council, or the Office of
Student Affairs.

The members of this community have
operated under the misguided assumption
that somehow the University Grounds
constitute a sanctuary from the general law.
With that assumption in mind student and
administrative agencies within the University
have attempted to play policeman within the
dormitories and the fraternity houses, not
taking strong disciplinary action unless the
situation became either blatant or a serious
hazard to other students living in the area. We
think that these groups and individuals have
shown great sensitivity and intelligence in
governing this aspect of University life, much
more so than the police have done in similar
situations.

However, the quasi-guarantee that
dormitories and fraternities are free from
imminent threats of busts has disappeared.
Faced with that reality, the University should
respond with informative warnings of the
legal consequences to those students who
could be arrested for drug violations of
criminal law. Neither the University nor its
student disciplinary arms should respond to
this new development with sanctions which
go beyond the current law, in the hope that
students faced with these double penalties
(criminal and University) will be discouraged
from using drugs or that enforcement
agencies, noting that the University has
adopted a stiffer policy, will be less disposed
to bust dormitories or fraternity houses.

Realistically, drugs will continue to be
consumed in this community, and the police
will be just as intent to squash such activity.
The University should continue to use its
resources to give disturbed users the medical
attention they desperately need, but the
University should not attempt by playing
policeman to push its way between the law
and the individual.