"High" Statistics Lacking at Lyndon

The use of marijuana on the campus of Lyndon State College is not any different than other collegiate level institutions – it happens. According to annual crime statistics released by Lyndon Public Safety, there is usually one arrest each year made by police surrounding a drug abuse violation. Additional data reflects the disciplinary actions – where students are "written up" and face various consequences – taken between 2008 and 2010. In 2010, 53 students faced disciplinary action for drug abuse violations – thirteen more than the previous year.

While the number of incidents is provided in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, The Critic has recently learned that there is no recorded data of any kind reflecting the amount of marijuana confiscated on campus. For example, when a student is caught in possession of the drug, they are "written up" for breaking the drug abuse policy.

However, there is no documentation of how much marijuana the individual was possessing recorded by Public Safety - or the Vermont State Police. Although all confiscated substances are placed into a secured locker after being confiscated, they are never weighed individually or in total to confirm an amount before being turned over to the state for destruction. The only thing recorded is the number of incidents in which a student is found in possession.

"Usually, when we are called in to pick it up, it's not significant amounts," said Lieutenant Mike Henry of the Vermont State Police Barracks in Saint Johnsbury. "The school holds onto the drugs until the end of the semester, unless it is a substantial situation in which they call us. Nothing is weighed or documented, and sometimes an officer will just destroy it on location if it isn't a significant amount," he said.

Lyndon Director of Public Safety, George Hacking, a 29-year retired State Police Officer, said that while drug use is expected at all colleges, it is not something he takes lightly.

"Many problems we have are usually associated with drugs and alcohol," he said. "Almost all violations and destruction of property involve them. Some [people] have a very high level of tolerance to deal with it, I do not," he said.

Hacking also noted that Public Safety's responsibilities go much further than busting students. They are also responsible for securing locations and "doing rounds" to check up on routine maintenance areas.

"It all depends on what we have time to do. We could find it every night if we had the staff, but we don't – we have a lot of other things we are also responsible for. But, we do look for things that draw attention," he said.

As the person who reviews all campus incident reports, Hacking also said that there is usually one instance of "dealing" large amounts of drugs on campus each year. In that case, state police are called in to handle the situation, he said.

He also confirmed that against popular belief, students can and will be "written up" simply for smelling of marijuana – even if they are not in possession of any substances. "We document it, and it is up to Residential Life on how to handle that," he said.

For a complete list of annual on- and off-campus crime statistics involving Lyndon students, visit Public Safety's Campus Crime Awareness webpage at lyndonstate.edu/students-faculty-staff/offices-services/public-safety.