RC drug policy discussed

Students concerned about greater enforcement

As a result of a perceived change in drug policy and its enforcement since the South Hall incident last month, Residential Coordinators (RCs) across campus are hearing concerns from students about whether Residential Life and Services is looking for RCs to get tough. Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk answered questions from RCs and OSCA loose-ends coordinators (LECs) concerning the drug policy and its enforcement on April 17.

Cole said about the meeting, "I thought it was productive...who better to give me feedback than the RCs?"

College sophomore Bonnie Solomon, who is presently an RC at Burton and planning to be an RC next year, said that she doesn't see a change in the drug policy enforcement. She said, "I've heard students talking about it and students asking me about searches."

She added that at the meeting with Cole-Newkirk, the dean did not know where this concern was arising from.

Ellen Kazary, a college sophomore and an RC in Langston Hall, said concerning the present enforcement of the drug policy, "I don't think enforcement is the word...it's more focusing on education so people can make a more informed decision." She said that she believes that neither the policy nor its enforcement is changing.

An RC from South campus said concerning the seriousness of the enforcement of the drug policy, "It depends on what you're measuring it against." The staff of Residential Life is encouraging RCs to take their job seriously. According to the RC, it is asking them (RCs) to sit down and evaluate themselves.

On the other hand, O'Dhaniel Mullette-Gilman, a college sophomore and an RC in Dascomb Hall, said that he doesn't know whether the college is becoming more strict stricter or not. He said, "My understanding is that they are not changing the rules. The question is whether they are going to." He said that he thinks RCs will be informed of any changes during fall training.

An RC, who asked to remain anonymous, said, concerning the enforcement of the drug policy, "People are, in general, tightening up a lot for next year. There is talk about confiscating [drug paraphernalia] which is pretty new."

At the meeting with Cole-Newkirk, the RC said other RCs expected to be told what to do in situations concerning drug enforcement. She found Cole-Newkirk's position unclear. She was surprised they were not given any direction and saw it as having future potential for problems. The RC said, "My standard, in general, is if you don't see it, you don't have to do anything about it. We didn't need to police people before."

Solomon said that if she was aware of a resident abusing drugs, she would knock on his door, speak to a person in the room, and state that his activities were in violation of the college policy and that they were infringing on other people's space. She says that she seldom has to be put in this position. She said, "I don't like to do it, but that's the part I get paid for."

Senator senior Noah Bopp said he was an RC during his sophomore and junior years. He said that during his first year as an RC, he and other RCs expected students in their respective halls to comply with the "don't be a butthead" rule, where residents are expected to respect their neighbors. He said that RCs would only interfere if people were violating this rule and bothering other residents in their hall.

Since the implementation of the smoking policy last school year, Bopp felt, however, that the enforcement of the drug policy has steadily become stricter.

One student on North campus said that a bong was found in his room by an RC during a routine fire inspection. After the Commons Coordinator (CC) of the hall was contacted, the CC asked his roommate to let her inspect the room although he was not present at the time.

The student met with the CC later in the evening by her request. He informed the CC that the bong was not his and it was no longer in his possession. The CC wanted a dated, signed note from the student saying that it was no longer in the dorm or on the campus. He complied with her request.

"I understand that marijuana is illegal. However, I would have rather the RC confronted me about it. I happen to think that as an adult individual who can go to jail and fight wars for the government that if I want to smoke marijuana it is my own business," said the student.

Ted Carleton, a college freshman, said, "I think Res Life is pushing to make the RC position more of a policing position given the fact that proposed changes to the drug policy include providing RCs with the authority to confiscate both paraphernalia and illegal substances and to enter rooms without paying attention to the current policy."

"We aren't here to be policeman. We are people to help other people's problems. We don't help people by losing their confidence," Mullette-Gilman said.

Mullette-Gilman commented, "Rather than huge drastic changes in enforcement and punishments, I hope to see real work towards education, where people are given choices."

He also said, that " lot of people in residential life are open to talk. They want to know what people think and how they feel."

Longman Commons Coordinator Tracene Marshall said concerning the role of the RC, "I think it depends on the RC, what they have been doing in the past, their personal stance, responsibilities of the jobs, and how seriously they take their jobs."

East Hall CC Dianne Ripley said, "I saw that this year we're becoming more conscious of the problem here and expecting more enforcement of it."

Pot Paraphanalia: Bongs, a mainstay on Oberlin's campus, may be less visible soon as students and administrators talk about a tougher drug policy (photo by Alex Warnow)