Pubdate: Thu, 04 Oct 2007
Source: Diamondback, The (U of MD Edu)
Copyright: 2007 Diamondback
Contact:  http://www.diamondbackonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/758
Author: Nathan Cohen
Cited: http://www.ssdp.org  (SSDP)

WITH NO-GO ON RESLIFE, SSDP TARGETS RAs

In a "last-ditch" effort to get better treatment for students accused
of using drugs in dorms, university activists are asking resident
assistants not to immediately call police or write students up if they
smell or suspect drug use.

The university's chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy is
asking RAs to use discretion before calling police when they smell
marijuana in their halls because of the harsh consequences that come
with drug violations. Those punishments include expulsion from housing
at the university level, and arrest and automatic loss of state and
federal financial aid if the case enters the judicial system.

"As you know, university policy dictates that students caught with
marijuana be automatically evicted from the residence halls and
suspended or expelled," states the letter the group has distributed to
most North Campus RAs. Over the next week, they expect to deliver a
total of 250 letters. "But as you also know, most of your residents
don't deserve such harsh punishments for a relatively minor and common
offense."

After months of lobbying for looser punishments for students caught
with marijuana, the Department of Resident Life budged slightly this
summer. Previously, community directors who doled out punishments
would automatically suspend residents from housing for at least a
year. Now community assistants can simply suspend students for a
semester or less if they have a "small" amount of marijuana. The
punishments for any large amounts remains the same.

"Something we didn't want to suggest [in a policy change] was that the
university would literally be more tolerant [of marijuana]," said
Steven Petkas, associate director of Resident Life.

Unsatisfied with the change - which would have only saved four of 92
students accused of using marijuana in the dorms during the past two
years, according to Petkas - the activists are using letters as a last
resort to curb the number of students who get in trouble for marijuana
violations in their rooms.

They want to encourage RAs to simply ignore a smell so a student
doesn't face punishment, said Stacia Cosner, a university senator and
SSDP president. This is against Resident Life policies, but "I don't
really know how they'd be able to track undocumented incidents," she
said. They hope to affect RAs who are "on the fence" concerning the
issue, not those staunchly opposed to marijuana use in the dorms, she
said.

"[RAs] are all over the board, just like every group of students is,"
said Cosner.

Though RAs are not required to call police, they are told during
training to contact authorities if they feel "uncomfortable" in any
situation, especially in reference to marijuana, because RAs aren't
trained to handle the substance, said Resident Life's Petkas.

Though some staffers oppose a letter that encourages RAs to ignore
illegal substance abuse, Petkas said he supported the group's effort
to influence the RAs, even if he doesn't endorse their cause. There
was a slight glitch, however, when SSDP members began sliding letters
under RA's doors, which is against Resident Life policy.

"I think SSDP ought to engage in things that they feel [are]
appropriate," said Petkas.

In the letter, SSDP stressed that the Student Government Association
and Residence Halls Association have both adopted resolutions to
decrease the punishment for possessing small amounts of marijuana, but
Resident Life has refused to fully adopt the recommendations.
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MAP posted-by: Derek