Students jeer tougher university drug policy

by Laura M. Schneider
Staff Writer

Representatives from Students for a Sensible Drug Policy spoke out at yesterday’s Ohio University Student Senate meeting about possible changes in university drug policy.

“The main reason we oppose this is that the current university laws are in line with state laws,” said SSDP Vice President Abby Bair.

Proposed changes to the OU Student Code of Conduct would make all penalties for marijuana possession Code A violations, which have a maximum penalty of expulsion.

Current policy separates marijuana violations into Code A and Code B violations.

Bair said the proposed changes would make OU policy stricter than Ohio law.

The University Review and Standards Committee reviews the code of conduct and can recommend changes. Bair said the committee’s closed meeting policy keeps out student perspectives.

“The way these policies are implemented is not right,” she said at the meeting.

Jim Hintz, Student Senate president and Review and Standards committee member, said several students on the committee represent the student body.

“I want them to know they are being represented,” he said.

Hintz said the committee might hold an open meeting with students, faculty and staff members about the proposed code changes after they have discussed the issue further.

Hintz said he and other senators have worked with SSDP to make sure the group’s views are represented.

SSDP met last night to organize a coalition among student political organizations to oppose the amendment.

Athens City Councilman Dale Tampke, D-at-large, also spoke at the meeting about his candidacy for representative in the Ohio House.

Tampke discussed issues such as local economics, health care and school funding problems.

Senate tabled a resolution to repeal a Jan. 9 resolution calling for the amendment of an Ohio House Bill that would allow concealed weapons in the state. Senators had approved an amendment to allow any city to override the bill with city law.

The resolution was withdrawn at the Jan. 30 meeting because of lack of sponsorship.

Senate adopted a resolution approving several senate expenditures.

In other senate news, Hintz and senate Vice President Mattie White will visit Hampton and Vanderbilt universities on Monday to research student unions at other universities.