UNIVERSITY ISSUES WARNINGS ON DRUG USE ON CAMPUS

LAHORE: The use of drugs at a private university has worried its
administration, prompting it to put up notices warning students
against using narcotics on campus, Daily Times has found. One such
notice put up early this month says students found using, buying,
selling or possessing drugs on campus would be thrown out.

Several students said the administration had noted the frequent use
of drugs among students and that was why it was taking this action.
One Masters' level student said the administration had in the past
couple of weeks found rolling papers and other paraphernalia in bins
and classrooms.

Another group of students said that although drugs were common in
society, it was unnerving to see students using it on campus. They
said they supported the administration's decision to warn students
against using drugs and to expel them if caught with drugs. "Boys
and girls need to have character. Drugs are for losers. Anyone can
do drugs. They're not hard to find or buy, but saying no to them is
what makes a person cool. Students using drugs on campus reflects on
their parents and their character as well. Even if a person is a
loser and wants to do drugs, using them on campus is not right. This
is very un-cool and I am very disappointed," said one student. The
university's registrar said the administration had taken the action
as a "precautionary measure" and had banned the sale, purchase,
usage or possession of drugs to keep the campus 'clean'.

There were no reports of drug use yet, the registrar said, adding,
"The university has adopted a no tolerance policy against drugs to
keep students away from them. I have recommended the names of two
students to the discipline committee and one of them is likely to
be expelled. These students were not doing hard drugs on campus, but
were caught smoking." The registrar said the vice chancellor had
personally ordered the ban and warning on drugs. "We don't want to
be tough on students. However, we are taking this measure for their
good. Also, someone dented my car after this issue came up, but I
doubt the incident is related to the university's stance against drugs."