POT POLICY DRACONIAN, BUT POT IS ILLEGAL

Students living in the UI's residence halls are warned of the stiff
penalties that exist for drug possession and use in the dorms. Thus, when
the UI police receive notice that the noisy occupants of a specific room
are burning more than candles (which, by the way, is also prohibited), the
offenders get burned by the university's policy.

Because of the zero-tolerance policy currently in place, students caught
with marijuana in one of the university's residence halls are often
evicted, even for first offenses.

As a result, the UI Students for Sensible Drug Policy recently drafted and
circulated a resolution to reform these policies, collecting more than
1,000 student and faculty signatures in support of the resolution. The
group presented the resolution to the UISG Student Assembly on Tuesday,
arguing that education and assistance should be emphasized for offenders
over stiff penalties that are imposed now. The resolution was not passed
because of its wording - assembly members were concerned that no
distinction was made between marijuana and other illicit drugs, such as
cocaine. Plans are already underway to rewrite the resolution and present
it again in November.

We can sympathize with the Students for Sensible Drug Policy's view on this
issue - that immediate eviction for possessing a bag of pot is too punitive
- but we would also point out that marijuana is an illegal substance,
according to state and federal law. In this respect, it's different from
alcohol, which the university needs to account for through its policies.
The two substances cannot be placed in the same category because one is
permissible (for those of legal age) and the other is not. That's why
students caught with alcohol in the dorms aren't ordinarily evicted on the
first offense (unless they possess large quantities) while students caught
with marijuana often are.

One of the arguments behind this effort is that, as noted by UISG Vice
President Jason Shore, some students caught with illegal substances in the
residence halls are forced to drop out of school after their evictions.
This is a legitimate concern.

A first-year student found to be in possession of pot should not have to
end her or his academic career simply because of one act of poor judgment.

To this end, residence-hall officials need to ensure that violators are
given ample time to find alternative housing if they are evicted.

Education and assistance should also be emphasized for offenders, but only
while acknowledging that marijuana is illegal. Being in possession of it
ordinarily results in arrest and incarceration.

It is for this reason that the UI's zero-tolerance policy toward marijuana
and other illicit substances in the dorms is not wholly unjustified. Many
may not agree with the legal status of marijuana in this country - in its
Oct. 6 editorial, the DI suggested that legal penalties for pot possession
are too harsh, leading to overcrowded jails and costly trials - but this is
not within the university's scope of jurisdiction. Therefore, campus
policies need to correspond with laws set forth by the state.

This is why 19-year-olds are prohibited from consuming alcohol on
university property.

We recognize the apparent draconian nature of the university's drug
policies but also recognize the need to uphold the law, as insensible as it
may be. To dorm residents, we offer one simple suggestion: Don't break the
rules, and you won't be penalized.