Spring Break
Marijuana citations highest in three years
Carlton Purvis
Issue date: 5/27/09 Section: Features
Sophomore Matt Boyle, who resided in Fletcher Hall last semester, said he wasn't aware that marijuana use was an issue in his dorm until move-out day when he said an R.A. inspecting rooms came across a
homemade bong.
"It was in one of the rooms at the end of the hall on the right," he said. "The R.A. found it when they were going through some stuff in a closet."
According to data obtained from ECU police crime logs, stories like this are becoming more common on campus. The number of citations and arrests between January and May for marijuana-related offenses in the residence halls are almost six times as high as it was for the same period in 2006. These offenses include possession of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute or manufacture marijuana.
Daily crime logs for the spring 2006 semester show only three marijuana-related incidents involving ECU dorms. For that same time period in 2007, there were four, but by 2008, the number almost tripled to 11 incidents.
Reports for this year already show 17 separate marijuana-related incidents in ECU residence halls. Eight of these were in January, the highest number in the last three years. Six occurred within one week of each other, and four of those were in Garrett Hall.
Officials from the ECU Police Department say the rise in numbers seems to coincide with the start of the zero tolerance policy implemented by Campus Living. About five years ago, security cameras and temporary patrols were added to making living areas safer, said Adam Nelson, Campus Living assistant director.
"As a new employee of ECU last summer, I quickly became aware of the dedicated and genuine care Campus Living staff have for the students involved in drug-related behavior," he said.
About the same time, the zero tolerance policy for alcohol and drugs was put in place in the residence halls. "The staff here at ECU make this issue a priority in a way that not every campus does," said Nelson.
homemade bong.
"It was in one of the rooms at the end of the hall on the right," he said. "The R.A. found it when they were going through some stuff in a closet."
According to data obtained from ECU police crime logs, stories like this are becoming more common on campus. The number of citations and arrests between January and May for marijuana-related offenses in the residence halls are almost six times as high as it was for the same period in 2006. These offenses include possession of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute or manufacture marijuana.
Daily crime logs for the spring 2006 semester show only three marijuana-related incidents involving ECU dorms. For that same time period in 2007, there were four, but by 2008, the number almost tripled to 11 incidents.
Reports for this year already show 17 separate marijuana-related incidents in ECU residence halls. Eight of these were in January, the highest number in the last three years. Six occurred within one week of each other, and four of those were in Garrett Hall.
Officials from the ECU Police Department say the rise in numbers seems to coincide with the start of the zero tolerance policy implemented by Campus Living. About five years ago, security cameras and temporary patrols were added to making living areas safer, said Adam Nelson, Campus Living assistant director.
"As a new employee of ECU last summer, I quickly became aware of the dedicated and genuine care Campus Living staff have for the students involved in drug-related behavior," he said.
About the same time, the zero tolerance policy for alcohol and drugs was put in place in the residence halls. "The staff here at ECU make this issue a priority in a way that not every campus does," said Nelson.
Be the first to comment on this story