FREE | Take one Week of Dec. 9, 2009 | Vol. 35, Iss. 13
The
Mirr r
The Independent Student Newspaper of Fairfield University
fairfieldmirror.com
The Reflection of Fairfield
Marijuana Write-Ups Spike By Loan Le Contributing Writer
Prescribed Cheating?
Photo Illustration By Daniel Leitao
By Laura O’Reilly Contributing Writer
It’s the day before the exam that counts for half of your final grade, the hours are ticking away, and the cubicles in DiMenna feel like your own personal prison cell. Instead of focusing on the words in your textbook, all you hear is the same Taylor Swift song blasting from the headphones of a girl sitting across from you. But there’s hope. Jumping out of your seat, the solution to all your worries awaits you at the bottom of the staircase. No, it’s not another cup of coffee from the Chef’s Table, but your friend who conveniently has attention deficit disorder (commonly known as ADD) and a few spare pills to share from the month. With the pressures of finals week fast approaching, it is no surprise to hear that many college students illegally turn to prescription stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin to aid their studies. As college students become more dependent on these types of drugs, what does it mean for the future of academics? Should the illegal use of these drugs be considered a form of cheating, calling for punishment by the University? Wesleyan University has moved in this direction. Should Fairfield?
The History of Adderall and Ritalin Abuse
The illegal use of these drugs on college campuses is not a new occurrence. The Mirror has covered its growing popularity on the Fairfield University campus for years. A 2004 article explains the accessibility of the drug. One student said “I take Adderall as often as I can get it, and almost everyone I live with takes it for some purpose.” An article from the following year describes a student that was legally prescribed Ritalin and considered it a “burden” because so many friends would ask to buy it from her. She also said that she once had about 25 Ritalin pills stolen from her. In 2009, an article explained how Adderall was found to not only be used by students on campus as a “study drug” but also as a weight loss pill. This is not just a problem centered at Fairfield. Nationwide, college newspapers are reporting the illegal use of drugs like Adderall or Ritalin to aid studies. In the past few years Boston College, Santa Clara University, University of Delaware, Trinity College, and most recently Wesleyan University are just a few of the schools whose newspapers have featured stories on these “study drugs”.
Usage on College Campuses
According to a 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health performed by an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, full-time college students aged 18 to 22 were twice as likely as their counterparts who were not full-time college students to have used Adderall illegally in the past year. The study also found that college students who use Adderall illegally are three times as likely as those who do not use the drug to have used marijuana in the past year and eight times as likely to use cocaine in the past year. According to a survey taken by 20 Fairfield University students, 55 percent said that they have taken a prescription drug like Adderall or Ritalin before. Out of these students, 47 percent take the drugs illegally, either by purchasing them or getting them for free from a friend. 33 percent of the students rely on the drug at least once or twice a week. A freshman male said that the drug is very easy to get if you know someone. He said “within the first week [of coming to Fairfield University] I knew kids who would sell them to me. I have nothing against it.
The Ethical Debate
The growing demand on college campuses for these “study drugs” has made many people wonder whether it gives the illegal user an unfair advantage over the non-user. According to The Middletown Press, Wesleyan University, located only about 50 miles away from Fairfield in Middletown, Conn., has taken a stand to combat the illegal use of these prescribed drugs. The administration has modified its student code of conduct because the use of the drug may be enhancing the student’s performance, therefore violating the University’s honor code that states that all work must be completed “without improper assistance.” Wesleyan’s student newspaper, The Wesleyan Argus, reports that many members of the student body were curious about the misuse of prescription drugs in regard to studying. The Dean is quoted saying that “most students with whom I’ve discussed the issue feel that it is a form of cheating.” A sophomore male atPill | page 6
Index Opinion • Page 9 Features • Page 11 Arts & Entertainment • Page 13 Sports • Page 24
Get to know Milo Peck P. 11
Pot, weed, grass--call it what you want, but marijuana still remains as the world’s most commonly used illicit drug. The frequent arrests at Fairfield University regarding the usage or possession of marijuana raise concern on campus. In the month of November alone, there was an alarmingly high number of incidents involving marijuana. The Department of Public Safety shows that in the academic year of 2008-2009, approximately 30 drug related incidents had occurred, and 39 in the 2009-2010 year. Around 10 cases involving marijuana have been documented in December so far. There are various ways in which the Department of Public Safety comes across these incidents. The Residential Assistant (RA) might call about suspicious odors or activities, or things found during inspections. Officers or students can come across any suspicious activity and notify the department. Though Public Safety does not directly confiscate the marijuana and/or drugs, they have a procedure that involves notifying the Fairfield County Police of the drug related incidents. The problem of marijuana on the campus is not an isolated incident, as it also reflects the situation in other United States college campuses. According to the U.S. Department of Education, prevention professionals report concern because marijuana may act as a ‘gateway’ drug, serving as an introduction to the ‘drug scene’ and additional types of drug use.” In addition, marijuana inhibits a person’s attention, memory and learning. Proposition 19, which called for the legalization of marijuana for anyone older than 21 years old, was overturned in Congress in the beginning of November. It also would have Marijuana | page 5
DPS Cracks Down on Alcohol By Georgia Lobb Contributing Writer
In 2006, there were 756 alcohol-related write-ups at Fairfield University. In 2007, 900. After a record high in 2008, we’re down to 1076 in the 2009 academic year. Fairfield isn’t alone. A 2005 article in the New York Times said that since the 1990’s, alcohol arrests on campuses have increased by startling percentages. It’s no doubt that students drink illegally at Fairfield. Despite the hundreds of citations, the average dorm, townhouse or apartment on campus has beer, vodka, or some kind of alcohol (maybe even wine for the classiest of students) in the fridge. But the Times article suggests that increase in writeups such as Fairfield’s might not be due to an increase in consumption of alcohol. “As in past years,” says the article, “college law enforcement officials and administrators have attributed the rise to aggressive enforcement policies rather than to more use of drugs and alcohol.” The Jeanne Cleary Crime Report for Fairfield University cites that in the academic year 2009, an astonishing 95 percent of the disciplinary referrals on campus were alcohol related. A Dean of Students, Kim Nikolenko, confirms this. “A majority of the students we see have documentations related to alcohol.” That is to say it’s hardly that more students are drinking. It’s just that more are getting caught. In terms of measuring Alcohol | page 5
Inside
Fairfield “Ink” P. 13