ZERO-TOLERANCE DRUG POLICY REVOKED

Last month, Newfoundland's Memorial University reviewed and revoked
its zero-tolerance policy on drugs because many students found the
policy unfair, according to the MUN student union.

Last winter, while walking down the stairs of one of the 14 residences
on the MUN campus, a female student who was active in the Memorial
community and respected by her peers dropped a marijuana joint that
she was planning to smoke off-campus. This joint was worth
approximately $4.

Under MUN's zero-tolerance policy for drugs, this girl was kicked out
of residence.

The residence handbooks state "students are not permitted to possess
illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia, and/or consume illegal drugs or
other illegal substances."

The girl with her $4 joint was in possession of an illegal substance
and consequently in violation of the residence rules.

Cameron Campbell, director of external relations, communications and
research for MUN's student union said the girl was told she had three
days to move out of her residence room.

Campbell said the MUN student union and most of the student body found
the zero-tolerance policy unfair.

"If caught by police [off campus], they treat it like underage
drinking in this day and age," Campbell said.

For this reason, the zero-tolerance policy was reviewed over the last
few months and has now been disbanded. The policy now follows a
premise of fines and warnings, much like the drug regulations of other
university residence contracts. These new regulations have taken
effect over the last week of September.

"This is your home," Cameron said. "It's not as though you could go
and keep your weed somewhere else."