UC-BERKELEY AND SJSU ATOP DRUG ARREST LIST

The University of California-Berkeley and San Jose State University have
earned a dubious distinction: In 1996, the campuses ranked highest in the
nation for drug arrests.

According to a survey of nearly 500 large colleges and universities by the
Chronicle of Higher Education, the number of arrests at UC-Berkeley was 193
- -- 68 more than in 1995. At San Jose State, the number rose to 160, 31 more
than the previous year. UC-Berkeley also ranked second after Michigan State
University for alcohol arrests.

The newspaper conceded that it is difficult to tell if the numbers show an
increase in drug use or better enforcement efforts because reporting by
campuses is inconsistent.

Campus police officers at UC-Berkeley, for instance, work together with city
police to patrol a commercial area that includes, but is not limited to,
property owned by the university. The arrests are tallied separately by
those agencies regardless of whether those arrested have ties to the university.

In fact, said campus police Lt. Adan Tejada, the great majority of the
arrests take place near People's Park, the 1960s flower children haunt.

Some other colleges and universities draw their boundaries ``as narrowly as
possible, which . . . can circumvent the goal of informing the public,''
according to the Chronicle.

Nationwide, drug and alcohol arrests rose for a fifth consecutive year in 1996.

San Jose State University officials could not be reached for comment Sunday.