Alcohol and drug-related crime rises 65 percent in dorms
Cost of one ounce of weed: about $250. Cost of being caught with possession in the dorms: about $6,000 to $8,000.
Meelad Khaliqi
Contributing Writer
Mason Brown
Staff Writer
Cost of one ounce of weed: about $250.
Cost of being caught with possession in the dorms: about $6,000 to $8,000, according to Joseph Genest, sophomore at VCU.
Genest was caught with marijuana in the dorms during the 2010-2011 year. The possession charges came from the city, the school and housing.
“It was hard to transition,” Genest said, when talking about being removed from the dorms. “The money, the time and getting re-situated took a hit on my grades.”
“I’m not a victim; this is my fault. I’m not going to argue that weed should be legalized, regardless of if it should. The thing is I committed a crime. And it was a learning experience,” Genest said.
Genest was forced to move out of the dorms, continue to pay his housing fees for the following semester though he did not live on campus and take classes regarding substance abuse. This combined with the fact he had to find a new apartment, pay legal fees and make court dates made Genest’s easygoing college life become a much more stressful legal battle combined with a full class workload.
“Partying in the dorms is stupid,” Genest said. “If you’re going to party, go off campus or something.”
According to VCU Police Chief John Venuti, VCU has seen a 65 percent increase in drug and alcohol arrests in residential housing compared to last year.
Between Aug. 1, 2010 and Aug. 29, 2010, there were a total of eight drug and/or alcohol arrests. In that same time period in 2011, there was a dramatic increase in the number, with 23 arrests. Last year, there was also a 59 percent increase in drug and alcohol arrests by VCU police in residential housing compared to the previous year.
VCU’s associate vice provost and dean of students affairs, Dr. Reuban Rodriguez, said that because of idle time at the beginnings and ends of semesters, it’s understandable why crimes relating to drug and alcohol increase despite VCU’s attempt to curb those activities.
He stated that when VCU holds certain events, such as the extended event of welcome week, “(VCU tries) to give students options other than negative activities.”
Under VCU’s residential alcohol policy, any student found with alcohol is subject to parental notification. In addition to dealing with potential parental punishment, punishments can range from a mandatory drug and alcohol education course to full legal action that could result in probation.
When students are caught with drugs or other controlled substances in residence halls, they are subject to action by Residential Life and Housing as well as local law enforcement.
Violation of either the drug or alcohol policy can result in residence hall judicial action.
“I personally look at residential housing as a privilege for students,” Venuti said. “I would like to see students take the terms and conditions of their housing agreements more seriously.”
Residential advisors (R.A.s) are one way to attempt to stop illegal behaviors, but they unfortunately cannot make the decision for students’ behavior.
“It all comes down to individual choice-making,” Dr. Rodriguez said. R.A.s are not allowed to comment due to their contract terms.
Students, however, generally recognize that their actions rely on their choices. “(R.A.s) are doing their job and if someone commits a crime in the dorms, then they run the risk of being caught by the R.A.,” freshman Natalie Gomez said.
Dr. Rodriguez said that expulsions due to drug and alcohol policy incidents are rare and that each case is handled individually due to the specific nature of each incident.
“We want students to learn from the experience and learn things going forward as to how to improve their behavioral choices,” Dr. Rodriguez said.
