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Volume 40, Issue 12
April 8, 2003
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April 8, 2003
Campus drug arrests scant
By Stephanie Mckee
Mesa Legend
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| Marijuana
(pictured above) has accounted for two out of the three drug charges
at MCC in the past five years. |
Drug crimes on college campuses nationwide are on the rise, with the
exception of Mesa Community College.
Since 1998 there have been three reports of drugs on campus with only
one leading to an arrest.
According to MCC Certified Safety Officer Lynn Bray, two of the incidents
involved marijuana and the third cocaine.
In a Crime Analysis Report for the Mesa Police Department, there have
been 44 drug calls for the Dobson area in the last quarter of 2002.
Steve Corich, Director of College Safety and former Mesa Police Officer
believes the reason for Mesa’s low drug reports are, “because
our campus is non-residential we have less reports of drugs on campus.
I would say 90 percent of our students are here because they actually
want to be here. Most people do drugs recreationally. They don’t
come to school to recreate, they come here to learn.”
Corich also attributed the low numbers of reports to the counseling available
on-campus, which “helps students make pro-active decisions instead
of turning to drugs.”
Furthermore, Corich feels the College Safety Officers play a role in keeping
the campus safe.
“Most of our officers have training above and beyond regular police
officers,” Corich added.
Even though the number of drug crimes has remained relatively low, a number
of students are still abusing drugs.
“There is a large percentage of students who have problems with drugs
and alcohol,” Counselor Janet Reilly said, “We (in the counseling
department) see quite a few students.”
The Counseling Department offers individual counseling with patient confidentiality.
“Ethically we are not allowed to talk about any issues students talk
to us about, unless they suggest harm to themselves or others,” Reilly
explained.
The Peervention program has been set up to inform students of drug and
alcohol abuse.
Drug and alcohol awareness workshops are also offered by the MCC Fitness
Center Workshops.
None of the three reports in the past five years has involved students.
The cocaine incident that led to an arrest involved a man not affiliated
with MCC who committed theft on campus.
When searched by police officers, narcotics were found the on the man.
If a student is caught with drugs on campus the consequences are higher
than if caught off-campus.
A student can be expelled or suspended on top of the criminal charges
they may face. A teacher can lose their job.
A student may also be denied federal aid if convicted of selling or possessing
drugs. The 1998 Higher Education Act states “A student who has been
convicted of any offense under any federal or state law involving the
possession or sale of a controlled substance shall not be eligible to
receive any grant, loan, or work assistance.”
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