The College Fix

College administrators cracked down hard on drugs last semester at Hillsdale College in Michigan, with a zero tolerance policy and an unprecedented 13 drug-related suspensions in the 2009-2010 academic year.

But the drug drama is relatively quiet this semester — no students have been dismissed, leaving others to ask: Is the administration’s policy working?

Dean of Men Aaron Petersen attributed the change to one student learning from the mistakes of another, or 13 others.

“The effect of that is a pendulum swing the other way,” he said.

The pendulum can be seen in the efforts of students. Independent of administration orders, one student, suspended last semester for using marijuana, started a Narcotics Anonymous group this fall, inspired by his progress in his required 90 NA meetings in 90 days.

“Since [being in NA], I’m in a much better spot,” he said.

The college’s policies remain strict — any student caught with an illegal substance or paraphernalia must leave within 24 hours and take the rest of that semester off. Any students wanting to return must first attend 90 NA meetings in 90 days.

Marijuana, as well as other drug use, among college students has risen in the past 20 years. A large-scale study performed by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) in 2007 found 33.3 percent of college students had smoked pot in the previous year. Four percent of college students reported smoking pot more 20 days or more in the previous month.

Specific restrictions and punishments vary case-by-case at Hillsdale, but Petersen said the harsher the substance used, the harsher the punishment.

“The particulars matter,” he said.

This approach differs from their approach to alcohol, even with those caught drinking underage. Petersen said the administration follows the lead of state and federal law on the issue. Alcohol, on the one hand, has its permitted uses; marijuana, excluding prescriptions, does not.

“The purchase and use of this drug supports illegal organizations that are a threat to law in our country,” Petersen said. “Because it’s completely illegal, it’s entering into a bad culture.”

To obtain marijuana requires contact with drug dealers, and those drug dealers have more than pot to sell, Petersen said.

“A student can put his life at risk dealing with that kind of culture,” he said.

Peterson said the college’s Honor Code calls students to rise to self-government, and using marijuana violates that.

“The problem with drugs is you learn to rely on something else, which certainly doesn’t make you stronger,” he said. Because of marijuana uses promotion of drug trade, Peterson said, “It’s hard to say it’s a victimless crime.”

Most of the 13 students suspended last year did not return to Hillsdale, and such a record lessens the chances of finding an acceptance letter in the mail.

Pete VandenBerg, suspended last year for marijuana use, chose not to come back to Hillsdale and now attends the Loyola University New Orleans, thanks to the help of Lecturer in Economics Geoffrey Lea and other members of the economics department. VandenBerg, however, said he considers himself lucky — it hasn’t been this easy for the others.

“[Hillsdale College] goes and punishes people and kicks them out for things they shouldn’t get kicked out for,” he said, adding later, “A lot of my friends, their lives are completely destroyed by what Hillsdale College has done to them and they have no future.”

Vandenberg said the college should approach drug instances the same way as alcohol instances — discipline the student, but give them a second chance rather than sending them home. VandenBerg said this distinction is not only hypocritical, but a large step down a path that rejects students if they “don’t fit into the shell they force you to fit into.”

Peterson said he does not think last year’s suspensions mean Hillsdale’s drug culture significantly expanded. Instead, the administration found a “nest” of smokers and addressed it as college policy demands.

Multiple students on campus said marijuana smoking was not limited to one campus group.

One anonymous student who recently stopped smoking marijuana said some students smoke to relieve the academic pressure of Hillsdale.

“People that study hard and work hard, play hard,” he said.

College Counselor Chuck Johnson said it’s important for students to realize there are other ways to wind down.

“The key to changing addictions with alcohol, marijuana and nicotine is to take an honest look at how you use it,” he said.

Johnson said counselors are available on campus to provide confidential help for those who seek it.

Betsy Woodruff and Casey Cheney are staff writers for the Hillsdale Collegian, and contributors to the Student Free Press Association.

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