UW system + Drugs

[mu_hilltopper]

UW system represented badly here .. MU clocks in at #46 on the drug charts ..

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-colleges-with-most-on-campus-drug-and-alcohol-arrests-2014-1

[Eldon]

Holy smokes (no pun intended) is that bad for all of the UW schools!!  6 in total!

[Eldon]

Holy smokes (no pun intended) is that bad for all of the UW schools!!  6 in total!

And that's just for drugs.  For alcohol, the UW system has 10 schools.  TEN of the 50.

[warriorchick]

Not trying to defend anyone, but I don't think you can assume that most drug/alcohol arrests = most drug and alcohol use.  If a campus or community turns a blind eye to the problem (or conversely, decided to really crack down), it would show lower/higher arrests in proportion to use.

Also, because it says it is "on-campus" arrests, does that mean it excludes student arrests off-campus (bars, private apartments, etc)?  That makes those results pretty useless.

[Coleman]

Not trying to defend anyone, but I don't think you can assume that most drug/alcohol arrests = most drug and alcohol use.  If a campus or community turns a blind eye to the problem (or conversely, decided to really crack down), it would show lower/higher arrests in proportion to use.

Also, because it says it is "on-campus" arrests, does that mean it excludes student arrests off-campus (bars, private apartments, etc)?  That makes those results pretty useless.

+1 totally agree.

Drug use at MU is relatively rare, compared to other college campuses. The reason is MU takes it very, very seriously. MPD is almost always called in instances of drug use. Getting caught with drugs once can mean you are suspended for a semester. Compare that to the way MU handles alcohol use, which usually is handled in-house by an RA or hall director. You usually have to write an essay about how for every beer you drink God kills a kitten, and you're off the hook. Some RAs like to crack down on alcohol consumption in the dorms, but the truth is there are very few real consequences. I had friends who were "written up" for drinking 5 or 6 times freshman year, and each time they were slapped on the wrist. Marquette Public Safety never calls MPD for underage alcohol consumption, whereas its an automatic call with pot, coke, etc. So it makes sense we would show up on the drug chart and not the alcohol one.

And honestly, MU is handling it the way it should be handled, both in the instances of drugs and alcohol.

[EnderWiggen]

And honestly, MU is handling it the way it should be handled, both in the instances of drugs and alcohol.

Out of curiosity, why do you feel this way?  Drug use is illegal, alcohol use for minors is illegal, why shouldn't both be handled in a similar way?  (of course, this doesn't apply to kids >21 in the dorms).

Personally, I am all for reducing the punishments for minor drug use in the dorms.  Half the problems in the dorms (e.g., fighting, damaging property, puking in the hallways) were created by the kids who were drunk (although I am not arguing for suspending them or anything) and the kids who were smoking pot just watched movies or listened to music with their friends. 

Now I understand that MU can't turn a blind eye to illegal activities, but given that both drugs and alcohol are illegal for those under 21, shouldn't the punishments from MU be similar?

[Coleman]

Out of curiosity, why do you feel this way?  Drug use is illegal, alcohol use for minors is illegal, why shouldn't both be handled in a similar way?  (of course, this doesn't apply to kids >21 in the dorms).

Personally, I am all for reducing the punishments for minor drug use in the dorms.  Half the problems in the dorms (e.g., fighting, damaging property, puking in the hallways) were created by the kids who were drunk (although I am not arguing for suspending them or anything) and the kids who were smoking pot just watched movies or listened to music with their friends. 

Now I understand that MU can't turn a blind eye to illegal activities, but given that both drugs and alcohol are illegal for those under 21, shouldn't the punishments from MU be similar?

Speeding is illegal, murder is illegal. Should they both be handled the same ways? I know that's an exaggerated analogy, but still.

Drinking and drug use are two completely separate things. >90% of the population drinks alcohol. Most people believe if you are old enough to be able to vote and die for your country, you should be able to drink.

To be clear, I'd be ok if they handled pot like alcohol, but hard drugs like coke should definitely be handled WAY differently than how alcohol is handled. Completely different ball parks.

A big part of it, I'm sure, is parent expectations. Most parents probably expect their kids will drink at Marquette. What they want the university to do is provide a safe, nurturing environment. They probably like that kids are "disciplined" for getting caught with alcohol, but legal intervention is not required and their kids don't get arrests/convictions on their records for drinking.

I can guarantee you parent expectations for drug use on campus are completely different.

[Coleman]

BTW, great GIF. What game is that from?

[MerrittsMustache]

BTW, great GIF. What game is that from?

IIRC, it was when Mayo hit the FTs vs. Villanova.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Now I understand that MU can't turn a blind eye to illegal activities, but given that both drugs and alcohol are illegal for those under 21, shouldn't the punishments from MU be similar?

Not even close. I went down to U of I this weekend and cops/campus security do nothing down there. Its 19 to get into bars and nobody cares who drinks. Marquette is actually very strict when it comes to their policies. U of I is a mad house, not saying its a bad thing just every school enforces it differently. Also agree that the gif is awesome. I recognize like 3 of the kids in there including the one who takes his shirt off.

[EnderWiggen]

Speeding is illegal, murder is illegal. Should they both be handled the same ways? I know that's an exaggerated analogy, but still.

Drinking and drug use are two completely separate things. >90% of the population drinks alcohol. Most people believe if you are old enough to be able to vote and die for your country, you should be able to drink.

To be clear, I'd be ok if they handled pot like alcohol, but hard drugs like coke should definitely be handled WAY differently than how alcohol is handled. Completely different ball parks.

A big part of it, I'm sure, is parent expectations. Most parents probably expect their kids will drink at Marquette. What they want the university to do is provide a safe, nurturing environment. They probably like that kids are "disciplined" for getting caught with alcohol, but legal intervention is not required and their kids don't get arrests/convictions on their records for drinking.

I can guarantee you parent expectations for drug use on campus are completely different.

You know, I agree with the vast majority of what you are saying (e.g., not all illegal behavior should be treated similarly, coke is definitely different than pot). 

I think the one thing I might disagree with is your comments about parental expectations.  Personally, I feel like these kids are 18, so they should be treated as if they are autonomous, and thus, parental expectations shouldn't matter much. I'm a university prof though, so my perspective is one of being really sick of dealing with parents who interfere a bit too much in their kids university lives. That said, I also recognize it's a tricky issue because the parents are often the ones paying the bills and if MU builds a reputation for being a druggie school, it is definitely going to negatively affect enrollment, donations, etc...

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Drinking and drug use are two completely separate things. >90% of the population drinks alcohol.

You're going to find very, very few activities that over 90% of the population participates in.  The rate of Americans that drink has been near 65% for a long time.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/141656/drinking-rate-edges-slightly-year-high.aspx

[Coleman]

You're going to find very, very few activities that over 90% of the population participates in.  The rate of Americans that drink has been near 65% for a long time.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/141656/drinking-rate-edges-slightly-year-high.aspx

Maybe I should have said Wisconsinites?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Speeding is illegal, murder is illegal. Should they both be handled the same ways? I know that's an exaggerated analogy, but still.

Drinking and drug use are two completely separate things. >90% of the population drinks alcohol. Most people believe if you are old enough to be able to vote and die for your country, you should be able to drink.

Problem is, that's how it used to be and the amount of teen deaths and others dying as a result of teen deaths who couldn't handle their booze forced the pols to change the laws.  Same deal with gambling, you can die for your country but if you aren't 21 you better not be on the casino floor. 

Personally, I'm all in favor of taking the vote away from these guys until they are 21.      Nothing like an entire constituency that hasn't paid for anything in their life and just wants all the goodies knowing they don't have to pay for them. 

[LloydMooresLegs]

[quote author=ChicosBailBonds link=topic=41783.msg563580#msg563580 date=1391360502

Personally, I'm all in favor of taking the vote away from these guys until they are 21.      Nothing like an entire constituency that hasn't paid for anything in their life and just wants all the goodies knowing they don't have to pay for them. 
[/quote]

I think this was tealish, but I think your comment underestimates most college students and ignores the 50% (wild guess) of 18-21 year olds who are 1) working; 2) in the service; or 3) in college, bu working their way through.

[jesmu84]

Problem is, that's how it used to be and the amount of teen deaths and others dying as a result of teen deaths who couldn't handle their booze forced the pols to change the laws.  Same deal with gambling, you can die for your country but if you aren't 21 you better not be on the casino floor. 

Personally, I'm all in favor of taking the vote away from these guys until they are 21.      Nothing like an entire constituency that hasn't paid for anything in their life and just wants all the goodies knowing they don't have to pay for them. 

I dont think this is limited to the youth. The babyboomers keep kicking the can because they know they won't be around when it comes time to pay the bill.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Just saw where Phillip Seymour Hoffman was found dead earlier today with syringe in arm. 

Drugs....sigh.


Someone in my family started out with Mary Jane, then got bored with it and moved on up the latter.  Ended up leading to the murder of one person and fortunately she saw the light. 

Bad stuff.  Next time I hear some jerkoff say it isn't a gateway drug I'll happily have them talk to a few folks near and dear to us, including the mother of a deceased son.

[jesmu84]

Just saw where Phillip Seymour Hoffman was found dead earlier today with syringe in arm. 

Drugs....sigh.


Someone in my family started out with Mary Jane, then got bored with it and moved on up the latter.  Ended up leading to the murder of one person and fortunately she saw the light. 

Bad stuff.  Next time I hear some jerkoff say it isn't a gateway drug I'll happily have them talk to a few folks near and dear to us, including the mother of a deceased son.

Sorry you had to deal with that Chicos. Drugs have been in my family too, but nothing quite to that end. I will say, however, that like any other product (drugs, alcohol, prescriptions, etc) that you put in someone's body, it has different effects on different people. Some can smoke 1 cigarette and never want to do it again. Some smoke 1 cigarette and can't stop the rest of their lives. Can it be a "gateway" drug? Sure. But is it for everyone? No.

[ChicosBailBonds]

[quote author=ChicosBailBonds link=topic=41783.msg563580#msg563580 date=1391360502

Personally, I'm all in favor of taking the vote away from these guys until they are 21.      Nothing like an entire constituency that hasn't paid for anything in their life and just wants all the goodies knowing they don't have to pay for them. 


I think this was tealish, but I think your comment underestimates most college students and ignores the 50% (wild guess) of 18-21 year olds who are 1) working; 2) in the service; or 3) in college, bu working their way through.

It was tealish, and I'm not discounting them.  I worked through school...made so little that taxes were a non-issue because you essentially go them all back.  But yes, it was tealish.  The poll tax, etc, has long since been abolished....so you have a society now in which those that pay little or don't pay at all get to demand goodies from those having to pay for almost all of it.

It's all great until the money stops. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Sorry you had to deal with that Chicos. Drugs have been in my family too, but nothing quite to that end. I will say, however, that like any other product (drugs, alcohol, prescriptions, etc) that you put in someone's body, it has different effects on different people. Some can smoke 1 cigarette and never want to do it again. Some smoke 1 cigarette and can't stop the rest of their lives. Can it be a "gateway" drug? Sure. But is it for everyone? No.

Jesu, I absolutely agree with this.  It's the clowns that say IT IS NOT A GATEWAY DRUG. PERIOD.  That's who I'm talking about.   It absolutely impacts some people, but you have an entire population (a large one) that screams it has no impact and that is absurd. For some people, it has a huge impact and has led to tragic outcomes.

[Coleman]

Problem is, that's how it used to be and the amount of teen deaths and others dying as a result of teen deaths who couldn't handle their booze forced the pols to change the laws.  Same deal with gambling, you can die for your country but if you aren't 21 you better not be on the casino floor.  

Personally, I'm all in favor of taking the vote away from these guys until they are 21.     Nothing like an entire constituency that hasn't paid for anything in their life and just wants all the goodies knowing they don't have to pay for them.  

Lots of 18-20 year olds have paid with their lives defending our country. If they can get sent over, they should be able to vote for the people who choose to send them. And be able to have a beer while on R&R leave. Simple as that.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Lots of 18-20 year olds have paid with their lives defending our country. If they can get sent over, they should be able to vote for the people who choose to send them. And be able to have a beer while on R&R leave. Simple as that.

I'll use more teal next time

Let's also not forget we don't have a draft anymore and people voluntarily join the military and know all that is involved.  Usually when they hand you a rifle during basic that is a clue.