UT MAY TELL PARENTS ABOUT STUDENT ALCOHOL, DRUG USE

University of Toledo students under age 21 who violate the school's alcohol
and drug policy soon could have more to worry about than a hangover or bad
trip.

The UT board of trustees today will consider an addition to its student
code of conduct that would call for parents or guardians to be notified of
certain violations.

"If there is a law that empowers the university to do this and we choose
not to do it, one could argue that we are not fulfilling our responsibility
as an institution of higher education," James Tuschman, board chairman,
said yesterday during a meeting of the committee on student services and
athletics.

The proposal was made possible by a 1998 amendment to the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

If it is approved, UT would notify the parents or guardians of students
under 21 who violate the university's drug policy or who are repeat
offenders of its alcohol policy. Parents also would be contacted if such a
student requires medical attention as a result of any violation.

Student reaction to the proposal has been very mixed, according to John
Cooke, a student member of the university's board of trustees.

"They want their freedom," he said. "At the same time, we want to be able
to help them."

UT sophomore Emily Keefe, of Bellevue, O., was equally conflicted. "I guess
it's a good idea if your parents are paying for college," she said. Still,
she added, "You move to school to get away from your parents."

It is important to students that the intent of the policy be to help
students and not just go over their heads to their parents, said Scott
Mattera, student government president.

The measure was not proposed in response to a large number of code
violators at the university, but rather as a means of being proactive,
Calvin Lawshe, UT interim vice president for student services, said.

Last year, UT had 271 drug and alcohol violations, including repeat
offenders. University students who violate the code face a fine and must
attend a program that deals with substance abuse, according to Ed Willis,
dean of students at UT.

Bowling Green State University implemented a similar parental notification
policy in January without any controversy, Kim McBroom, a university
spokeswoman, said.

Parents or guardians are notified when a BGSU student is found responsible
for the use, sale, or possession of controlled substances within the
community. Notification also is made when the student is under the age of
21 and commits one of several violations to the university's alcohol
policies, according to the code of conduct.