STUDENTS QUESTION DRUG POLICY

Allowing students to live in residence halls after being caught with
marijuana was one of many topics discussed Monday night during an open
forum with University of Iowa President David Skorton and Dean of
Students Phillip E. Jones.

Loss of financial aid because of past drug convictions also drew
questions from a handful of students during the second session of
"Hanging with P and D," the school's newest reality show created to
address student concerns.

About 45 to 50 students a year have been suspended or evicted from
living in UI residence halls for possessing, using, manufacturing,
distributing or selling illegal substances such as marijuana, Jones
said. UI residence halls have a zero-tolerance policy, meaning if
students get caught with illegal substances they are suspended from
the dorms and could face criminal charges, according to school
residence hall policies.

"What about those 50 kids and where are they going to end up?" said
Kyle Fitzgerald, a UI sophomore and founder of the UI student group
Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

Fitzgerald suggested the school allow students who get caught with
drugs to take classes about substance abuse instead of getting removed
from the dorms. Students might not be able to afford rent, which leads
them to drop out of school, he said.

"Since marijuana is an illegal substance, and we have many parents who
believe this is exposing their kids to criminal behavior, we have to
take action," Jones said.

Some school officials have questioned whether suspending or evicting
students for illegal substances would create a problem with vacancies
in residence halls, Jones said.

Fitzgerald said he also is concerned about the number of youths who
are or could be denied federal financial aid because they answer,
"Yes," to question No. 35 on FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal
Student Aid, asking if students have past drug convictions.

Other discussion Monday covered bus transportation and underage
drinking.

UI sophomore Katherine Ehm wants bus services on the east side of
campus improved. Ehm, who is an Alpha Chi Omega sorority member and
lives in the house, said Cambus does not extend service to the house,
828 E. Washington St., and Iowa City buses stop running after 6:30
p.m.

"It's really just inadequate," Ehm said, adding that girls have and
could be assaulted walking the roughly 10 blocks to the house from
UI's campus.

Jones said students express concerns about extended bus services once
or twice a year. The issue, he said, is difficult since the city
controls the number of buses and the times they run.

Skorton and Jones also discussed creating a better "campus life,"
which could help decrease the amount of underage drinking. About 50
establishments with liquor licenses sit within one mile of UI's campus.

Suggestions included upgrading UI's recreational facilities.