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The Rice Thresher
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by Liora Danan thresher editorial staff Six students have been charged with possession of a controlled substance after Campus Police investigated a strong marijuana odor coming from the public third-floor balcony of Baker College early Sunday morning. The Campus Police referred the students' cases to the student judicial program instead of arresting and charging the students with a criminal offense. In discussions with interim Baker Master Arthur Few, acting Assistant Dean for Student Judicial Programs Allen Matusow determined that he would handle the cases directly instead of referring them to University Court. Matusow said he expected to have the cases resolved by yesterday. Because the students are being charged with a Class I violation of the Code of Student Conduct - manufacture, distribution, sale, offer for sale, possession, or use of controlled substances - the cases could have either been brought before U. Court or undertaken by Matusow. Police Chief Bill Taylor said police confiscated a total of 4.3 ounces of marijuana from the subjects. According to the incident report, several forms of narcotic paraphernalia were also seized. Officer Pete Martinez, who was at the scene, said all but one of the students present had been using marijuana, but not all the students were in possession of marijuana. "Marijuana was found in commons areas, which could lead one to believe that they were all in possession," Martinez said. Two students were transported to the Campus Police station, while the other six were turned over to Baker Resident Associate Greg Marshall, Taylor said. Taylor said that although some of the officers considered taking legal action against the subjects, the officers believed the student judicial system would lead to the quickest resolution of the situation. "Basically, we handled it as an administrative case rather than a legal case," Taylor said. "[The officers] thought the student judicial program would deal with the matter efficiently and effectively." This kind of case has traditionally been handled internally, Matusow said, but Taylor said if the officers had been aware of the entire situation from the onset, they might have pursued a different course. "It became more involved than they thought it was going to be at first," Taylor said. "They could have pursued a different course where it could have ended up in prosecutions." Few said he will not make a decision concerning rustication of the subjects until he hears the results from the Rice judicial system. A student can only be rusticated by his college's masters - it is not a penalty that can be administered by Matusow or U. Court. Taylor said the police officers on duty - Martinez, Officer Dennis Senter and Cpl. Alex Adames - found a group of eight students on the balcony above the Baker sixth stairwell at about 2:40 a.m. Sunday morning. Two of the students are not being accused of any violations. "As [the officers] arrived, one individual threw what was later confirmed as a marijuana cigarette over the side of the balcony," Taylor said. The subjects were asked to stay on the patio while the officers attempted to contact Arthur and Joan Few, Taylor said. The Fews were out of town, so Baker Resident Associate Greg Marshall was contacted. The subjects were asked to turn in any marijuana they had in their possession, Taylor said. "Everybody involved pretty much 'fessed up something," Martinez said. "Upon subsequent questioning, we ended up locating an additional amount that they were just trying to withhold."
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