NIACC DRUG POLICY HELPS ITS ATHLETES MAKE GOOD CHOICES

When the semester started at North Iowa Area Community College last fall,
about 200 student athletes got a surprise lecture. They were told that the
school was beginning testing for drug use.

They were told that about 20 percent of the athletes would be picked at
random to be tested, that those people would be given little notice, and
that sanctions would await those who failed the test or refused to take the
test. Other students who showed signs of drug use could also be tested.

No one suspected a major drug problem at the school -- or if they did, no
one was saying it publicly. School officials said they were concerned about
the students' well-being and wanted to help them make the right decisions.

So, with some prodding by the governing National Junior College Athletic
Association, the school took the bold step of becoming one of few Iowa
community colleges to test for drugs -- illegal drugs, the misuse of
over-the-counter drugs or use of forged prescriptions, and alcohol.

Results from the first two rounds of testing are in -- 29 students tested
in all -- and one athlete tested positive.

Now, in a perfect world, or in the world of many years past, perhaps, one
would be too many. It still is, really. No one wants to see a person harm
his body with questionable substances.

Yet, athletes at the highest levels do just that; baseball's recent steroid
incidents are a perfect example. It would be naive to think the problem
doesn't exist locally.

So, all things considered, one incident is, as NIACC Athletic Director Ryan
McGuire puts it, "somewhat acceptable" and "not a huge shock to our system."

In fact, one incident among 29 can be viewed as a testament to the quality
of athletes the college is bringing onto its campus, and a testament to the
staff for delivering the message about drugs.

When NIACC announced implementation of the policy, we applauded it as a
sign of the college's true concern for the all-around individual, not just
the athlete on the playing field or gym floor.

We mentioned NIACC's reputation of having staff members who care about
their players. We suggested that parents and students concerned in any way
about the climate at the college could take some satisfaction in knowing
that measures are in place to promote and provide a healthy environment.

Now, the first results of the drug testing are proof that NIACC is
promoting just such an environment.

Not everyone gets the message, of course. As long as people have free will
some will decide to make poor choices. But the school is using the program
to help kids deal with problems, rather than simply as a "gotcha!" to
identify and punish athletes who are abusing drugs.

As basketball coach Steve Krafcisin said, "Part of our job is to help kids,
not ruin them."

Random drug testing will help achieve that goal. So far, testing has
produced the expected results -- results reflecting well on the college and
its student athletes.