Pubdate: Thu, 11 Dec 2003
Source: Hattiesburg American (MS)
Copyright: 2003 Hattiesburg American
Contact:  http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1646
Author: Nikki Davis Maute

USM OFFICIALS: DRUG POLICY MEMO WRONG

Some Staff Wrongly Given The Go-Ahead On New Rules

A new drug and alcohol policy at the University of Southern Mississippi has 
been delayed although some USM administrators were wrongly advised Tuesday 
to move ahead with implementing the proposal.

The Hattiesburg American reported Monday that USM president Shelby Thames 
had delayed implementing the policy until mid to late January after 
questions about certain sections emerged.

Tuesday, university administrators received an e-mail from Mark S. Dvorak, 
director of Human Resources, advising them that the media was wrong and 
that administrators should "proceed as directed" on implementing the new 
drug policy.

USM spokesman Lisa Mader said unfortunately Dvorak was not notified of the 
change.

"It was an internal communication breakdown," Mader said. "He was not 
notified of the change, which is our own mistake."

Chemistry professor John A. Pojman said the university could have avoided 
the controversy and opposition to the proposed policy had administrators 
given the policy to faculty members for review before ordering its 
implementation.

"Had faculty members been consulted early we could have avoided this 
misunderstanding and regrettable confusion," Pojman said.

The new policy states: "All employees should be on notice that, if they 
choose to use illegal drugs or engage in the habitual use of alcohol (even 
during non-work hours), they are likely to report to work with detectable 
levels of those substances in their bodies and will be in violation of the 
university's drug and alcohol abuse policy."

Pojman said he has several issues with the proposed policy including the 
fact that the policy calls for zero detection limit.

"As a chemist, this does not make sense since alcohol can still be detected 
within 24 to 36 hours after its use," Pojman said. The policy is also 
opposed by the USM chapter of the American Association of University 
Professors. The AAUP delayed seeking a court injunction last week until the 
policy review by the administration is completed.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart