U OF I RANKS 4TH IN U.S. IN CAMPUS DRUG ARRESTS

The University of Iowa's zero-tolerance policy on drug use has backfired -
in a way.

Because the school refers all drug cases to police instead of handling them
internally, the U of I ranked near the top of a Chronicle of Higher
Education study on college drug arrests. The study found there were 205
drug arrests on or near U of I's campus in 2000, placing it fourth in the
nation for universities with more than 28,000 students.

The study, released last month, did not consider internal disciplinary
cases, known as judicial referrals. The U of I had no drug-case referrals
in 2000. At the other end of the scale, the University of Vermont made 377
judicial referrals and 33 arrests.

"An allegation of drug use is obviously a serious allegation, and we want
to make sure the police can make sure a crime has occurred," said Tom
Baker, U of I's assistant dean of students. "We're not specifically looking
to rank higher or lower. We just do what needs to be done when reports are
brought to our attention."

For at least five years, residence hall staff members who suspect drug use
have been directed to call campus police instead of making referrals, he
said. Campus police can make arrests and file criminal charges. All
students who live in U of I residence halls must sign a contract agreeing
not to use drugs on campus.

Sara Henson, judicial affairs coordinator at the University of Vermont,
said campus police there usually do not file criminal charges against
students caught with small amounts of marijuana, the overwhelming majority
of drug cases.

"The state attorney knows how we run our judicial system and is comfortable
with that," she said.

Policies at the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University are
similar to U of I's.

Tom Romanin, associate vice president for educational and student services
at UNI, said the only time drug cases might be referred to the school's
judicial system is when police feel the case is not strong enough to prosecute.

"I think the public expects that the students should be treated just like
other people in society," Romanin said.

Still, drug arrests at U of I outpaced arrests at similarly sized ISU. Iowa
State made 40 arrests and four referrals in 2000.

U of I's 205 arrests in 2000 were more than double the number in 1999, when
officials reported 100 drug arrests. U of I law enforcement officials and
substance-abuse experts say there are many possible factors for the increase.

"It could be anything," said Stephan Arndt, director of the Iowa Consortium
for Substance Abuse Research and Evaluation in Iowa City. "Depending on how
you want to spin it, it could be harsher enforcement, closer inspection.
Then again, it could be higher incidence of substance abuse and use in the
community."

Chuck Green, director of public safety at the U of I, said he didn't think
drug use at the university was on the rise. "In terms of seeing a real
trend here, no, I couldn't attest to that," he said.

U of I freshman Ashley Hoffman, 18, who lives in a residence hall, said
students who are arrested deserve what they get.

"They know the rules," she said. "If they break them, they have only
themselves to blame."