Purdue students seek change in drug policy

Purdue students recently voted to try and reduce the penalty for students caught with marijuana in the University’s residence halls.

The students want the University to treat marijuana and alcohol incidents equally.

“The residence halls have a zero-tolerance policy for being caught with pot, compared to being caught drinking,” said Purdue junior Sara Wislocki, president of Purdue’s chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. “Your RA might see you drinking in the dorm and ask you to throw it out, or they might send you to an alcohol class. It’s ridiculous how if your roommate is caught smoking, you could also get kicked out even if you had nothing to do with it.”

By a vote of 2,970 to 2,567, Purdue students won on the ballot under the student government election to make the punishment equal for getting caught with pot versus alcohol. Now that the results are released, NORML is bringing its winning ballot to the residence halls to show them that Purdue students do want a change.

Unlike Purdue’s zero-tolerance policy when it comes to smoking marijuana, IU looks at each case separately.

“I like what we do better,” said Eric Gibson, president of the Residence Hall Association at IU. “If you sit in front of a judicial board that is made up of not only adults, but students who are your age living in the residence halls, it makes the situation a lot more fair for you.”

Jeanne Norberg, spokeswoman for Purdue University, said under university regulations, “the residence halls have a zero tolerance for use and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. This policy was instituted following a drug-related incident in one of the halls that resulted in the death of a resident assistant.”  

Purdue’s conservative views are a lot harsher than IU’s.

“It all depends on how much marijuana or alcohol you’re caught with,” said Dean of Students Dick McKaig. “You certainly could be kicked off campus for smoking if it is your first-time offense, if the quantities are large and there are many people involved.

The cops are normally only called if the student has been participating in this activity numerous times. Unlike Purdue, your residence hall contract is not terminated the first time you are caught with marijuana or other illegal drugs.”

IU sophomore Christine Turpel said she thinks the punishment for drinking and smoking should be the same.

“Your judgment is not impaired when you are smoking, unlike when you drink,” she said. “I also think smoking pot should be legal.”

Although Purdue’s student government voted to reduce the punishment for marijuana, it does not mean that Purdue’s administration will agree.

“All the students can do is hope for change,” Wislocki said.