2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial: Webster's drug policy effective after the fact
Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: Opinion/Editorial
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Anyone who has ever lived on campus and maybe a bunch who never have - realize that drugs aren't hard to come by at Webster University. The average straight-laced, non-drug-using student can probably point out the campus marijuana supplier.
However, the campus administration has decided to play the see no evil, hear no evil approach to every drug-related mishap.
Earlier this semester, a student was arrested and removed from campus after a drug-related offense. Another student was rushed to the hospital not long after that, following a drug trip gone bad in the Webster Village Apartments. Rather than address the issues of drug use and irresponsible behavior, resident assistants are being told not to talk about the issues to residents or anyone else. So much for leading by example.
Does a student need to tumble down a flight of stairs or fall out of a window before the Residential Life staff admits the problem facing students at Webster is not a small one?
Where does Webster draw the line between a medical emergency and the type of emergency that affects every student that lives on campus? By repeatedly sweeping these things under the rug, students may be getting the impression Webster doesn't care much about their welfare, only the university's image.
Where does Counseling and Life Development, Residential Life come into the picture? If someone messes up and gets caught using or selling drugs on campus, those are probably the departments they'll become pretty friendly with right before they are expelled and banned from Webster grounds.
Who cares if Webster has a strict drug policy if the hidden clause is a don't ask, don't tell policy. What ever happened to the Peer Education Zeitgeist and other groups on campus that are supposed to be effective in addressing these problems amongst the student body?
It takes more than concerts, open-mic nights, parties and athletics to keep students from indulging in the temptations of illegal drugs. Activities combat the problem in a way by giving students something to do, but when a known drug dealer lives in the dorms or everyone knows the cell phone number to a guy who will hand deliver narcotics, there really is nothing stopping students from finding other ways to occupy their time.
The administration needs to wise up and stop looking the other way. Webster University is a small, close-knit campus and what goes on behind closed doors here really isn't that big of a secret.
However, the campus administration has decided to play the see no evil, hear no evil approach to every drug-related mishap.
Earlier this semester, a student was arrested and removed from campus after a drug-related offense. Another student was rushed to the hospital not long after that, following a drug trip gone bad in the Webster Village Apartments. Rather than address the issues of drug use and irresponsible behavior, resident assistants are being told not to talk about the issues to residents or anyone else. So much for leading by example.
Does a student need to tumble down a flight of stairs or fall out of a window before the Residential Life staff admits the problem facing students at Webster is not a small one?
Where does Webster draw the line between a medical emergency and the type of emergency that affects every student that lives on campus? By repeatedly sweeping these things under the rug, students may be getting the impression Webster doesn't care much about their welfare, only the university's image.
Where does Counseling and Life Development, Residential Life come into the picture? If someone messes up and gets caught using or selling drugs on campus, those are probably the departments they'll become pretty friendly with right before they are expelled and banned from Webster grounds.
Who cares if Webster has a strict drug policy if the hidden clause is a don't ask, don't tell policy. What ever happened to the Peer Education Zeitgeist and other groups on campus that are supposed to be effective in addressing these problems amongst the student body?
It takes more than concerts, open-mic nights, parties and athletics to keep students from indulging in the temptations of illegal drugs. Activities combat the problem in a way by giving students something to do, but when a known drug dealer lives in the dorms or everyone knows the cell phone number to a guy who will hand deliver narcotics, there really is nothing stopping students from finding other ways to occupy their time.
The administration needs to wise up and stop looking the other way. Webster University is a small, close-knit campus and what goes on behind closed doors here really isn't that big of a secret.
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