Pubdate: Thu, 02 Feb 2012
Source: Daily Campus, The (UConn, CT Edu)
Copyright: 2012 ThesDaily Campus
Contact:  http://www.dailycampus.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2778
Author: Nicholas Rondinone

UCONN EQUALIZES PENALTIES FOR MARIJUANA, UNDERAGE ALCOHOL

The Office of Community Standards equalized the penalties for small 
amounts of marijuana and underage possession of alcohol after a 
meeting between university administration and student government leaders.

The meeting on Monday between the two parties followed a state of 
position passed in November by USG senators that endorsed equalizing 
the penalties for the two violations, according to a statement from USG.

"I am happy to have worked with the Office of Community Standards to 
update the list of possible sanctions, effectively equalizing the 
punishments for underage drinking and possession of small amounts of 
marijuana," said USG President Sam Tracy in the statement. "This 
change has made UConn's response to these two minor drug violations 
much more sensible, focusing on the health of the student rather than 
on harsh sanctions that do nothing to solve the problem."

The move followed the state's decriminalization of marijuana in July 
that made possession of less than one half ounce of marijuana an 
infraction punishable with a $150 fine for all, and an additional 
60-day license suspension if under 21.

"Equalizing UConn's penalties for underage alcohol and small amounts 
of marijuana simply makes sense - when state law treats the two 
infractions as equal, it's sensible for the state's flagship 
university to do so as well," Michael Gallie, current president of 
UConn's chapter of SSDP, said in the statement.

Before the changes, students faced penalties including University 
suspension for possession of marijuana - the same penalty for drugs 
including heroine, cocaine and others. Now, students face warnings 
and the UConn Compass program, according to the Student Code.

"A vast majority of incidents at UConn involving marijuana involve 
small, decriminalized amounts, so it makes sense for Residential Life 
to handle these incidents internally and save the police time that 
could be better used stopping drunk drivers or other dangerous 
activities," said USG Senator Bryan Flanaghan, who helped author the 
state of position.

The Student Code does include caveats for possession given 
"aggravating factors" including prior violations or amount, which 
could result in harsher punishment including university probation, 
removal from housing and a Wellness and Prevention educational sanction.

These penalties are not final, but only a possible list of penalties 
following the violation, according to the Student Code.
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