WVU HIGH ON LIST OF POT-SMOKING SCHOOLS

Also Listed Near Top For Packing Stadiums

The amount of marijuana smoked at WVU was determined by a survey of
students by the Princeton Review. The American Medical Association, among
other organizations, discounts the accuracy of the annual rankings.

WVU is one of the top 20 higher learning institutions nationwide, according
to this year's Princeton Review college rankings.

But this type of higher learning, not sanctioned or condoned by the
university, stems from an extracurricular course: Pot Smoking 420.

The Princeton Review, a test-preparation and college admissions company,
has ranked WVU No. 16 for "Reefer Madness" -- pot smoking among students.

"Reefer Madness" and the other 62 categories listed in the Princeton
Review's 2003 edition of the "Best 345 Colleges" are based on interviews
with 100,000 college students.

WVU ranked in only one other category -- "Packed Stadiums," or popular
sports programs -- which yielded more positive approval from university
officials.

Whether good or bad, President David C. Hardesty Jr. says the rankings are
based merely on the perceptions of randomly chosen students.

"They have been surveying some of our students for years," Hardesty said,
"and I know that some of them are freshmen who have attended school for
just three weeks. Everyone's perception is not the same, and the rankings
are not scientifically accurate. We certainly don't pride ourselves in
being ranked in the top smoking category, but it doesn't make us any better
or worse than any other major college."

Hardesty said college years mark a time when some students will experiment
with drugs, whatever university they attend.

But not all experiment.

"I don't smoke pot," joked Fred Martin, a Charleston native. "I'm already
funny, fat and lazy."

One physical education major said he's noticed a rampant drug culture among
students since arriving in Morgantown from Florida earlier this year.

"There's definitely a cocaine and pot problem here," John O'Neill said.
"People get away with it a lot. I've attended a few parties where I've seen
those types of drugs, and I haven't attended a party ever since. Drugs are
more prevalent in this area tha* where I was from in Florida. It's more
recreational here, and a lot of students don't take school seriously. The
attitude of some students amazes me. They want to party all week."

O'Neill admits to drinking on the weekends, but when it comes to drugs,
he's "not into that junk."

Despite the ranking, O'Neill takes nothing away from the university itself.

"I believe the teachers and staff are caring at what they do," he said. "I
give a thumbs-up to the school itself and the academics, because I think
the people work hard and they work you hard. I'm glad I'm here for the P.E.
program, because it's one of the best in the country. I came here and found
out it was true through people like my adviser, Dr. Andrew Hawkins."

The Princeton Review agrees on the quality of WVU's programs.

On its Web site, it described WVU as having "excellent programs in
journalism, agriculture, engineering and business" and being a "very good
place to get a degree."

The university's sports programs also make Morgantown a "great college
hamlet" and a "fun place to go to school."

"At a small town school like ours, sports are what attracts many students,"
Hardesty said about the Princeton Review ranking WVU No. 20 under popular
sports programs. "We have three main sports -- football and women's and
men's basketball -- that are gaini ng popularity and getting stronger right
now. I'm not surprised sports are popular here."

University officials have dealt with image-branding from the Princeton
Review before.

In 1997, WVU was ranked the No. 1 party school in the nation. After that,
officials worked hard to wipe clean its negative image by offering programs
and events designed to deter irresponsible drinking. In turn, WVU
disappeared from the party school rankings after 1998.

Since 1992, educators and medical experts have derided the Princeton Review
surveys as irresponsible and unscientific.

The American Medical Association has repeatedly criticized the party school
rankings, saying they legitimize high-risk drinking and portray alcohol as
central to college life.

The top five pot-smoking schools are Clemson University, University of
California-Berkeley, University of California-Santa Cruz, New York
University and Penn State University.

The top five colleges with the most popular sports programs are the
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Miami University, University of Notre
Dame, Duke University and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.