University of Virginia Library

News Analysis

Drugs Flow At University
Despite Legal Penalties

By Paul Larsen
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Although the names "Rebel Yell," "Cutty Sark" and "Black
and White," are more familiar to most University students than
"Acapulco Gold," "Deep Purples," or "Black Beauties," an
increasing number of students are breaking away from the
traditional alcoholic intoxicants in favor of more head-oriented
drugs.

The use of such mind-altering drugs as marijuana, hashish,
LSD, mescaline, and amphetamines has over the past few years
grown to such proportions to cause at least one University official
to express "serious concern."

Official University policy
concerning drugs is represented in a
letter by D. Alan Williams, Dean of
Student Affairs, sent to all students
during the summer of 1968. "The
University cannot and does not
condone the illegal use,
manufacture or sale of drugs by
students, and expects University
students to have the intelligence
and sense of responsibility to
refrain from actions which may be
damaging to themselves, or to
others, or to the University or
which are contrary to the law
regardless of whether or not the
student agrees with the law," the
letter stated.

While Federal and State laws
concerning the possession and use
of drugs are severe, University
policy dictates that "Students at
the University of Virginia using or
otherwise being involved with
drugs, may be subject to suspension
or may be given the opportunity to
withdraw."

Dormitory counselors are hesitant
to state any specific drug
policy, their main concern being
how they can help students using
potentially abusive drugs, including
alcohol, or drugs with several legal
penalties. Students found to be
"hung-up" with drugs and personal
problems are usually referred to the
Student Counselling Center.

Dean Williams himself has
stressed great concern over the
severe legal penalties a student may
suffer for using certain drugs. He
also feels that many students end
up hurting themselves, both academically
and socially, when they
indulge in excessive use of drugs.

Controversial Letter

Considerable controversy arose
over a letter issued to entering
students during the summer of
1967 by the former Dean of the
University B.F.D. Runk. A motion
presented before Student Council
contended that the letter of 1967
was erroneous or misleading on
several points. After several weeks
of study the Council unanimously
passed a motion urging "the Dean
of the University to re-evaluate
University policy with respect to
hallucinogenic drugs as expressed in
his letter dated Summer, 1967."

In February of 1967 an associate
professor of psychiatry at the
University Medical School sent a
letter to all department heads
emphasizing the strict legal penalties
for "dangerous drugs" including
LSD, amphetamines, depressants
and marijuana.

Mandatory Penalties

Dr. John Buckman, who has
been involved with research on LSD
since 1956, said in his letter: "It is
disturbing to find that the vast
majority of even professional
people, including lawyers, are quite
unaware of the nature of the
penalties which are mandatory in
cases of drug abuse."

Dr. Buckman said it was necessary
to educate all people of
mandatory jail sentences in cases of
narcotic drug abuse, where a
civilian court judge cannot use
discretion but has to sentence
persons to jail. He added that he
hoped his statement would be more
valuable to the University community
than any warning of punitive
measure by the administration.

Because of a governmental crackdown
on both the harvesting and
trafficking of the weed in Mexico,
there are many heads who have
formally proclaimed the death of
grass. Yet while the market is
indeed sparse, the reason most
smokers give is that this year's
harvest has not yet arrived from
Mexico and that all the grass from
last Spring's crop has been smoked.

Turning On

While it is impossible to determine
in figures just how many
students are turning on, estimates
vary from 20% to as high as 65%
when considering those who have
tried marijuana at least once. The
figures are considerably lower concerning
the more potent drugs.

In an interview with a dealer
given the name "Jim," The Cavalier
Daily reported two years ago that
marijuana was selling in Charlottesville
for $15 an ounce. Last year,
because the market was flooded the
majority of the time, prices were
known to be as low as $8 and $10
an ounce.