Dezirae Burnett

DrugsOnCampus_db_22417

Drugs on UM Campus
In 2016, the University of Montevallo Police Department reported a total of eight campus drug
violations, down from 31 in 2015.

Three of the 2016 violations occurred between August and December. .

The number of campus violations has fluctuated in recent years.

Until four years ago, drug violations were between 13 and 15, which UMPD Public Information Officer
Brian Prady says is average range for a campus this size.

Spanning from four violations in 2008 to at most eleven in 2011, UM drug violations dropped back down
to eight in 2012.

In 2013 however, the campus saw an unprecedented spike in violations, reporting 23 in 2013.

We thought the 23 was a fluke, Prady admitted. Then we went back down [in 2014], and we thought
ok, that was just a thing. Theres not really a good explanation for it.

Should a student be found in possession of, or using, an illegal substance on or around the UM campus,
disciplinary action is at the discretion of the officer on sight.

Officers can choose between making a state arrest, which would result in the person in violation being
handcuffed and brought back to UMPD for processing.

From there the violator would be taken to the Shelby County Jail in Columbiana where he or she would
be held until bond was made.

Since 2008, UMPD officers have made 17 drug violation arrests.

The alternative form of disciplinary action is sending the student to the Justice Council.

The UM Justice Council is made up of eight UM faculty members, six staff members and eight students.

In a typical drug violation case, the student in violation would be brought before the Council where
evidence would be presented and the student would get a chance to defend him or herself, much like a
typical court trial, however not all cases follow this line of action.

I hear three fourths, probably more, of the cases, Willingham said. Cases are only heard by the Justice
Council if the student requests it.

The difference is all is handled in-house, Pady said. This means that there is no criminal record and
the student wont have to disclose that they were arrested on job applications.

Though students do not walk away with a criminal record, there are sanctions imposed for each
infraction,
Dezirae Burnett
DrugsOnCampus_db_22417

Severity of punishment with severity of punishment often depending on such elements as severity of
violation and number or prior offenses.

We try to be very consistent in sanctions, said Willingham. We try to use educational sanctioning, as
well as what we think will keep you from doing it again.

Each year, students who received sanctions through the Justice Council, or through Willingham, are
surveyed to see which punishments were most effective.

Recent results showed fines were the most effective sanction, followed by letters to a parent for
students under 21-years-old.

The survey also showed that a high percentage of students felt the sanctions they received matched
their violation, Willingham said.

We were all college students once. Right or wrong, things like this happen, Prady said. We dont want
to hem up somebody because they made a mistake. We want to teach a lesson - provide a learning
opportunity - but not really get them in long-term trouble.

When drug violations rose once more in 2015 to 31, the University decided to increase its efforts in
communicating its goal to maintain a safe and drug free environment.

One measure taken to ensure this has been an increased frequency of random health and safety checks
within residence halls, Prady said.

Additionally, UMPD tries to walk through each residence hall at least once a night.

According to the 2015 annual report, 22 of the 31 drug violations were committed within campus
housing.

Marijuana is the most common violation of an illegal substance in the residence halls, said John
Denson, director of Housing and Residence Life. Housing staff are not allowed to open drawers and
search a room. Violations typically have to be in plain sight.

Should a resident advisor suspect illegal drug activity occurring within their residence hall, they then
contact UMPD for further investigation.

Once officers arrive they inspect the residence for evidence of use such as paraphernalia, towels under
doors, fans in the windows, or a lingering marijuana smell.

For the most part, what we see here is the strong odor, said student conduct officer, Karen
Willingham. The RAs do a really good job reporting [suspicious activity.]

If the officers find where the smell is coming from, they will go to that room and speak with the
occupants, Prady added.

In 2015 UM began mandating incoming students take on online sexual abuse and drug and alcohol
course.

The self-guided program, titled Think About It, provides education material for students about the
dangers of drug use and possible future ramifications in engaging in illegal substance use and abuse.
Dezirae Burnett
DrugsOnCampus_db_22417

So far, 513 students have completed the class Willingham said.

Willingham could not confirm whether the program has led to the decrease in violations the year
following its launch as no research regarding its effect has been conducted yet.