YUKON STUDENTS DIVIDED ON DRUG TESTING

YUKON - Students had mixed reactions Tuesday after learning student
drug-testing met with unanimous school board approval Monday night.
Freshman Christine Manning said she thought drug testing was a step in
the right direction.

"I think it's a great idea," she said.

Manning, a member of the Future Community Career Leaders of America
club at Yukon High School, said she wasn't worried about submitting to
urinalysis.

Freshman Chris Bishop said he wasn't sure he agreed.

"I kind of think it's an invasion of privacy," he said, "but I guess
it could be a good thing if it keeps the drugs out of our school."

Bishop said he thought drug testing would be more relevant if it was
applied to the entire student population instead of only seventh
through 12th-graders participating in after-school activities.

He estimated at least half the students tested would be positive for
some type of illegal substance.

Cross-country coach Matt Parent said he didn't think any of his 51
runners were doing drugs.

"It's not going to affect them (the cross-country team) at all,"
Parent said. "Most of these kids are overachievers. If they did do
drugs, they would be in a world of hurt when it comes to running."

Sarah Kennett, a freshman, said she thought the idea of giving a urine
sample was "gross."

She said some students bring drugs, such as marijuana, to school and
sneak off into surrounding neighborhoods to smoke.

Kennett said all the athletes she knew stopped doing drugs as soon as
they heard about the possibility of drug testing.

Bishop said most of the students participating in after-school
activities wouldn't endanger their eligibility by doing drugs. He said
the administration would be more successful in testing all students.

Parent said he could understand why students and parents have mixed
feelings about the testing.

"I definitely understand both sides," he said, "but I guess the best
outcome could be that drug testing gives them (students) an excuse to
not do drugs."