Pubdate: Tue, 21 Mar 2006
Source: Buchtelite, The (U of Akron, OH Edu)
Copyright: 2006 The Buchtelite
Contact: http://www.buchtelite.com/about/letters.shtml
Website: http://www.buchtelite.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4117
Author: Kristin Snowberger, Opinion & Chief Copy Editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

STUDENTS OUTRAGED

Charles Plinton's Story Worries Some, Angers Others

Luckily for the University of Akron, the majority of its students
don't follow the news. Most are unfamiliar with the Akron Beacon
Journal's recent stories about former student Charles Plinton. Only
one had full knowledge of the situation.

Some, such as sophomore Ben Jones, feel the university's actions were
inappropriate and that president Luis Proenza should have known about
the investigation.

"I'm not to happy about that to tell the truth," Jones said. "I think
Luis Proenza should have known, the whole board should have known."

Charles Plinton began his graduate studies in the department of public
administration in 2003 after receiving a full scholarship. He moved
into Wallaby Hall, earning a stipend as a graduate assistant.

The following March, campus police arrested Plinton in the Polsky
Building, on his way to class. He was charged with trafficking
marijuana. He was stripped of his stipend, his scholarship and his
resident status. The university informed him he was not permitted on
campus without permission.

A fellow resident of Wallaby fingered Plinton in connection to alleged
marijuana deals. That resident was a 35-year-old convicted felon who
was living in the apartment next to Plinton. He had been placed there
as part of a drug sting coordinated by Summit County Drug Unit, UAPD
and the director of Residence Life and Housing. No one else at the
university was aware of the plan.

The Beacon Journal presented Jerry Williams' side on Saturday.
Williams was Hulk's roommate. He was unaware of the drug sting as well.

Sophomore Sarah Antonucci believes that placing Hulk in a residence
hall was unfair to the students living there. She lives in the Honors
Complex.

"Students think safety is higher in dorms," she said. "I think if I
found out my roommate was a felon, I'd be upset."

According to John Messina, the director of Residence Life and Housing,
being a convicted felon does not bar one from campus residence halls.

Jones, a construction engineering technology major, lives in Spanton
Hall. Jones was fully aware of the events chronicled in the newspaper
last week. When he went home over the weekend, he discussed it with
his parents who were "pretty angry" about the story.

While he doesn't think drug use is out of control, he thinks there are
better ways to handle it.

"I've never seen anything," he said, adding, "They should keep an eye
out for it but they shouldn't hire a felon.

"He could have blamed it on anyone."

Antonucci has the same attitude.

"Personally, I've never seen illegal drugs in the dorm," she said. "I
know in some cases there's a reason to do it (investigate), but I
think they have to consider the safety of the students."

Senior Barbara Miller, who does not live on campus, agrees with her.
She thinks one way to address drug use is to have the resident
assistants become more attentive.

The confidential informant, known as "Hulk," was paid $50 every time
he was able to buy drugs from students. He claimed to have bought
marijuana from Plinton twice. After Plinton was acquitted in the
Summit County Court of Common Pleas, he faced a university tribunal.
There, by a vote of 3-2, he was found "responsible." He was suspended
for a semester. Plinton never returned to complete his schooling. He
committed suicide on Dec. 12.

Tom Tucker, a senior majoring in emergency management, doesn't think
it was a good idea to place a confidential informant on campus. He
also feels that Student Judicial Affairs might not be the fairest process.

"If they were acquitted, isn't that double jeopardy? I don't think
it's constitutionally correct."

In regard to the "substantial evidence" standard to which students are
held, he felt that one-third of the evidence was not strong enough to
find someone "responsible." Miller does not think SJA should retry
anyone who has been acquitted "unless there's completely solid evidence."

Regardless of the course of events that led up to Plinton's suicide,
Tucker says UA is not to blame.

"I don't think the university bears as much responsibility as the
media puts out," he said.

Jones does not share that sentiment. He believes the university's
actions "ultimately ruined" Plinton, causing him to kill himself.

"Everybody in the dorms should know about it," he said. "It's a big
deal.

"It's a really big deal."