Almost one year ago, Longwood University reduced its Marijuana Disciplinary Sanction, replacing the previous minimum sanction of suspension.
When looking at the number of conduct board hearings resulting in suspension regarding drugs, the number has dropped significantly, going from 24 suspensions during 2013-14 to only seven suspensions during2014-15.
“Certainly this policy of moving toward that different sanction would have impacted that,” says Dr. Tim Pierson, the vice president of student affairs.
This adjusted policy was both a result of comparing disciplinary actions exercised at other schools and the growing number of states supporting the legalization of marijuana as discussed in a previous article last November.
In the most recent student handbook, under the “Alcohol and Other Drug Policies” section on page 30, the first charge offense was lessened to only one calendar year of disciplinary probation and the requirement that students charged must take a formal risk assessment conducted by an alcohol/substance-abuse counselor. In the previous 2013-14 handbook, the first degree charge for possession was immediate suspension, found on page 53.
This policy change only covers those students charged with use or possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia, not those charged with distribution. A distribution charge continues to carry immediate expulsion from Longwood. Likewise, Longwood is considered a drug-free school zone and any legal charges taken against a student by either the Longwood or Farmville Police Departments remain the same in accordance with Clause G of Article I of the “Alcohol and Other Drug Policies” section of the handbook.
Pierson stated that this policy change has been in the works for several years now. He also emphasized Longwood has not changed its stance on its zero tolerance policy when regarding the illegal distribution, possession or use of drugs.
“Disciplinary probation is not getting off; it is defined as a last stage of warning.” Pierson continued, “Marijuana users are a smaller percentage, but it’s a percentage, so it is working with those students in terms of making decisions that are good for themselves that don’t carry a consequence that you’re not going to want to face.”
Jen Fraley, the associate dean of conduct and integrity, further explains, “We haven’t changed our tolerance of these offences. We’ve just added some flexibility in there, so if the situation calls for it, it can be at the minimum sanction.”
Pierson reaffirms, “I don’t think it lessens the message, that abuse of drugs and alcohol are not consistent with a healthy lifestyle. It’s not consistent with citizen leadership.”
The Longwood Conduct Board has been involved in these changes as well, providing its conduct board members training regarding the updated policies and procedures for 2015-16. Fraley also confirms that, “In terms of alcohol and drug offences, they are our most prevalent offences, in general, for student conduct issues.”
“I have mixed feelings about the criminalization of it [marijuana]. I don’t think I’ve seen where marijuana really contributes to students’ performance, whether that be academics, or athletics, or socially,” explains Pierson. “I don’t think it’s evil either, and I don’t like that painted, and some people dealing with depression and medical symptoms, marijuana has shown to be effective for them.”
