OLE MISS SEARCHES FOR DRUGS

The Department of Housing and Student Life is conducting a drug
investigation after an incident occurred Jan. 13 at the department's
warehouse located behind Kincannon Hall.

A custodian at the facility smelled what was believed to be marijuana
smoke and reported it to his supervisor. The police were called to the
scene, questioned everyone inside the building and detained one member
of the staff. No arrests were made.

"Detained can mean anything., That can mean held for questioning, but
they were not arrested," said Bobby Black, chief of investigations for
the University Police Department. "It was one person that we were
looking at for sure."

Black said his department was not investigating the case anymore,
because no marijuana or drug paraphernalia was found.

After an investigation by the housing department, the Department of
Human Resources will decide what sort of punishment, if any, those
involved in the incident will face and make a recommendation to the
housing department.

Under the university's drug policy, which applies to faculty and staff
members, the Department of Human Resources can test employees who have
been suspected of drug use while at work.

The policy also states employees may be suspended while an
investigation is conducted.

If the employee tests positive for drugs, the test results would be
sent to the Department of Human Resources for verification.

Associate Director of Housing and Student Life Vanessa Rodriguez would
not say whether or not the drug tests had been administered, or
whether or not anyone had been suspended. Rodriguez filed the police
report, but would not comment on the incident.

She said only that it is a personnel issue.

"I'm reluctant to say anything about it," Rodriguez said. "The housing
department will have no comment on this issue."

The university drug policy, implemented to comply with the 1988
Federal Drug Free Workplace Act, specifically prohibits faculty and
staff members from "possessing, using, manufacturing, selling,
distributing or in any other way involving themselves with controlled
substances both on and off campus."

The policy has provisions to test all employees who are suspected of
using drugs under two conditions:

"There is a reasonable suspicion that the employee may be under the
influence of alcohol or controlled substances while at work," or "the
employee is involved in a vehicle accident while operating a
university owned, assigned or leased vehicle" whether or not the
employee is at fault.

Also, those faculty and staff members working on grants funded by the
U.S. Department of Defense are subject to stricter regulations because
they may have access to classified materials.

Those with commercial driver's licenses are also subject to more drug
screenings than other employees. Drug testing is required, before and
after hiring, of all university employees who are required to have a
commercial driver's license. Any potential employee who tests positive
for drugs will not be hired.

The policy has few specific punishments listed for drug violations,
but leaves the punishments up to the Department of Human Resources.

If a university employee is involved in an accident while driving a
university vehicle and someone is killed, that employee must take an
alcohol-screening test within two hours of the accident.

The policy also has provisions to require employees to enter treatment
programs.

The University of Mississippi's drug policy, as well as other policies
are available at www.olemiss.edu .