STUDENT DISAPPOINTED BY DRUG-TEST RULING

I am disappointed with the Indiana Supreme Court's decision in favor of
Northwestern School Corp. in the case involving me and my sister. I still
maintain that the random drug testing policy is in violation of the
students' Article 2, Section 11, rights under the Indiana Constitution.

A truly disturbing view that the court presents is that if a school can
identify a drug problem, the school then has "an interest in experimenting
with methods to deter drug use." In essence, not only has the court upheld
the constitutionality of the search and seizure in question, it has also
empowered the school to experiment with various unrestrained, and perhaps
unproven, methods of deterrence under the pretense of trying to protect the
students. What will the next method of experimental "protection" be?

The court also stated, "Our law does not accord students the same privacy
interests as adults." And, "We find that students are entitled to less
privacy at school than adults would enjoy in comparable situations."

I question how this blanket statement applies to students who are 18 years
of age. Does the entry or the attendance of a public school diminish a
legal adult's rights, making them second-class citizens?

I do not question my stance on this issue, nor do I regret my decision to
stand up for my right to privacy and the rights of my peers. Slavery took
years to abolish, but that did not make it ethical or right prior to its
abolishment.

Where would the United States be if citizens did not fight for what's
right? I believe that random, suspicionless drug testing is a grotesque
invasion of privacy. I am sincerely disappointed that the court ruled
differently.

Rosa J. Linke

Kokomo