DO NOT IGNORE DRUG DEALING

Use of marijuana at NYU is above the national average, according to Jane
Bowman, university coordinator of drug and alcohol education. According to
a study administered by the university last spring, 29 percent of
first-year students at NYU reported using marijuana within 30 days prior to
the survey, 10 percent above the national average. As a result, NYU
President John Sexton announced at a Town Hall meeting earlier this year
that he planned to crack down on drug and alcohol use in the dorms.

According to Tom Ellett, executive director of housing and residence life,
most students acquire marijuana from sources outside the NYU community. "We
are not finding that marijuana sales are occurring in the halls on a
regular basis," he said. NYU Protection Services does not receive many
complaints of drug use, and few of those caught in possession of marijuana
implicate their friends.

However, an informal poll conducted by the WSN of 134 students from 10 of
the university's 22 undergraduate residence halls found that 85 percent of
students said it was easy to purchase marijuana in their dorm. Many RAs
have confirmed this. However, Ellett refused to acknowledge the claims.

If the administration intends to crack down on substance abuse, it cannot
remain in denial of student drug dealing. In order to stop drug use in the
dorms, the administration must acknowledge the reality of drug dealing in
the dorms, and look into measures to stop it.