CATAWBA SUSPENDS 2, EXPELS THIRD

In keeping with their new zero-tolerance drug policy, Catawba College
officials suspended two students and expelled a third Sept. 20 from the campus.

On Sept. 23, the Salisbury Police Department met with Sylvia Chillcott,
Catawba's new director of public safety, and Dr. Roy Baker, dean of
students, to get drugs the school had confiscated.

Baker said the Public Safety Office, acting on a tip from students at the
college, searched a student's room and found the drugs.

"We contacted the Police Department," Baker said. "... We asked for the
drug and alcohol unit to come because we had some drugs we wanted to turn
over to them."

According to the Salisbury Police Department, the college turned over a
marijuana pipe, marijuana seeds, small white pills and a small bag of white
powder. Lab analysis showed the white powder was approximately 1.2 grams of
cocaine and the white pills were Naproxen, an over-the-counter headache
medication.

The students do not face criminal charges.

Deputy Chief Mark Wilhelm said the college has called them in the past with
drug problems, but it is not uncommon for the college to handle small
problems in-house. And he said that's appropriate.

"We have a zero-tolerance drug policy at Catawba,"Baker said. "This is in
response to that."

Baker sent an e-mail to all Catawba students making them aware of the
suspensions.

"I have received a significant number of faculty, staff and students
supporting our stand on this policy and our decision to suspend these
students, "Baker said this morning.

And he indicated more suspensions may follow.

"The investigation continues,"Baker said. "I felt like we should follow
every lead until we are confident that we have responded appropriately."

Baker said security found the drugs on Friday night and immediately asked
the students to leave on Saturday morning.

"Their parents were here and took them home," Baker said.

All three students are freshmen. Baker said students Jessica Petrone and
Steven Clough were both suspended. Student Kevin Mick was expelled. All
three students lived in Woodson, a co-ed freshman dormitory.

The students are from New Jersey, Ohio and North Carolina.

There was a fourth person involved, but he wasn't a resident of the
college. Baker said they asked Joshua Smith not to come back on the campus.
The college sent a letter to the Salisbury Police Department making police
officials aware of the situation.

The letter gives the Police Department authority to charge Smith with
trespassing if he is found on campus property again.

"We just aren't going to have drugs on our campus," Baker said.