Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jan 2001
Source: Winston-Salem Journal (NC)
Copyright: 2001 Piedmont Publishing Co. Inc.
Contact:  P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102
Feedback: http://www.journalnow.com/opinion/letters/
Website: http://www.journalnow.com/
Author: Jim Sparks

ASU GETS AGGRESSIVE ABOUT DRUGS AFTER EDUCATION FAILS TO STEM USE

Because efforts to teach students about the perils of illegal drugs 
aren't curtailing use, officials at Appalachian State University said 
yesterday that they are taking a more aggressive approach toward 
enforcing drug laws.

The new approach includes increased cooperation between the ASU 
Police Department and other local law-enforcement agencies to reduce 
the availability of narcotics.

"What we're finding is that the best way to address the drug problem 
is to hold people accountable, said Gregory Blimling, ASU's vice 
chancellor for student development.

In the past month and a half, joint undercover operations by the ASU 
police, the Boone police and the Watauga County Sheriff's Office have 
led to 11 arrests of current and former ASU students on drug 
possession and trafficking charges.

The drugs involved include marijuana, cocaine, LSD and MDMA, also 
known as Ecstasy. More arrests are pending, authorities said.

Students who have been arrested could be suspended or expelled, 
school officials said.

"Appalachian has one of the most aggressive approaches to dealing 
with this in the UNC system," Blimling said. "As a result, we have 
been able to identify people that we believe threaten our community 
by the sale of drugs."

The university's decision to refocus its approach to illegal drug use 
comes as the number of drug violations on campus has started to 
increase after falling last year to the lowest level in the past five 
years.

In 1998-99, officials reported 118 drug violations on campus. In 
1999-2000, there were 43.

Blimling attributes the decline to a school policy that allowed 
officials to contact parents when students under 21 were caught with 
alcohol or drugs.

Parents of students who are caught with alcohol are not notified 
until the second offense.

So far this year, officials have reported 64 drug violations - not 
including the 11 recent arrests.

Bob Shaffer, the associate vice chancellor for public affairs, said 
that university administrators don't believe that illegal-drug use by 
ASU students was greater than that found on other campuses.

"What we are trying to do is send a message," said Gunther Doerr, the 
director of the ASU Police Department. "People shouldn't consider 
campus a safe haven for illegal activity.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Kirk Bauer