State attorney: University violates drug law
Paper: The Fairfield Mirror (Fairfield, CT)
Title: State attorney: University violates drug law
Author: STEVEN ANDREWS
Date: April 14, 2005
Section: Page 1
An offhand remark by a state attorney during the sentencing phase of a former Fairfield University student has resulted in the administration changing its drug policy, with the possibility of much stricter penalties for students caught in violation.
During the sentencing phase for Erick Rodriguez '05 (see story on page 8), Senior Assistant State's Attorney C. Robert Satti Jr. blasted the school's Public Safety officers for illegally confiscating drugs and not notifying the proper authorities.
"What is especially troubling is that in the course of the investigation as related to the police officers, that security officers at Fairfield U. would find drugs or drug paraphernalia in Mr. Rodriguez's room and really do nothing but take the contraband and who knows what they did with it," Satti said.
"It appears to be a violation of the law, it appears to be outrageous, and when the police actually showed up to his room, he was working at the computer and they had drugs and paraphernalia in his room there," he added. "That is one of the more troubling aspects of this particular case and that the state would be looking at more fully."
However, school officials admit they were shocked to hear Satti's remarks and categorically deny drugs were ever confiscated from Rodriguez.
"We had no connection with this case at all; we were completely out of the loop," said William Schimpf, vice president for student services. "At no times were we involved in touching or seeing the drugs."
Todd Pelazza, director of Public Safety, said that in addition to having no connection with the state's investigation, the school never took drugs from Rodriguez during his time at Fairfield.
Satti refused to comment on his statement, only saying that an investigation is currently ongoing, but the scope and target could not be specified.
The school has been left in confusion over where the attorney received his information.
"My guess is that it came from Rodriguez, but I don't know his motivation," said Schimpf.
Due to the allegations, however, the school has been forced to change its drug policy. When officers would find small amounts of marijuana on students and they did not suspect them of selling, they would confiscate it, make sure it was marijuana and then discard it. Now, any amount found is given to the Fairfield Police, who may then press charges against the student.
"For us to turn over every joint to the police is not to everyone's best advantage, it would just swamp the courts and lead to more arrest records," Schimpf said. "That doesn't benefit the educational process here."
Fairfield police admit that they were aware of the university's previous policy of taking small amounts of marijuana, and are concerned about the new allegations.
"After concerns raised by the state attorney, we'll work closely with the school to develop new protocols for the seizures and destruction of small amounts of drugs," said Sergeant Gene Palazzolo.
Schimpf said that the university has contacted their attorneys in an attempt to find a resolution that would both satisfy the law and work in the best interests of all involved. He expects some sort of resolution in as soon as a week.
In addition to now handing over all drugs to the police, all of the paraphernalia used for training purposes, such as bongs and bowls, have been destroyed by Public Safety, according to Pelazza.
Title: State attorney: University violates drug law
Author: STEVEN ANDREWS
Date: April 14, 2005
Section: Page 1
An offhand remark by a state attorney during the sentencing phase of a former Fairfield University student has resulted in the administration changing its drug policy, with the possibility of much stricter penalties for students caught in violation.
During the sentencing phase for Erick Rodriguez '05 (see story on page 8), Senior Assistant State's Attorney C. Robert Satti Jr. blasted the school's Public Safety officers for illegally confiscating drugs and not notifying the proper authorities.
"What is especially troubling is that in the course of the investigation as related to the police officers, that security officers at Fairfield U. would find drugs or drug paraphernalia in Mr. Rodriguez's room and really do nothing but take the contraband and who knows what they did with it," Satti said.
"It appears to be a violation of the law, it appears to be outrageous, and when the police actually showed up to his room, he was working at the computer and they had drugs and paraphernalia in his room there," he added. "That is one of the more troubling aspects of this particular case and that the state would be looking at more fully."
However, school officials admit they were shocked to hear Satti's remarks and categorically deny drugs were ever confiscated from Rodriguez.
"We had no connection with this case at all; we were completely out of the loop," said William Schimpf, vice president for student services. "At no times were we involved in touching or seeing the drugs."
Todd Pelazza, director of Public Safety, said that in addition to having no connection with the state's investigation, the school never took drugs from Rodriguez during his time at Fairfield.
Satti refused to comment on his statement, only saying that an investigation is currently ongoing, but the scope and target could not be specified.
The school has been left in confusion over where the attorney received his information.
"My guess is that it came from Rodriguez, but I don't know his motivation," said Schimpf.
Due to the allegations, however, the school has been forced to change its drug policy. When officers would find small amounts of marijuana on students and they did not suspect them of selling, they would confiscate it, make sure it was marijuana and then discard it. Now, any amount found is given to the Fairfield Police, who may then press charges against the student.
"For us to turn over every joint to the police is not to everyone's best advantage, it would just swamp the courts and lead to more arrest records," Schimpf said. "That doesn't benefit the educational process here."
Fairfield police admit that they were aware of the university's previous policy of taking small amounts of marijuana, and are concerned about the new allegations.
"After concerns raised by the state attorney, we'll work closely with the school to develop new protocols for the seizures and destruction of small amounts of drugs," said Sergeant Gene Palazzolo.
Schimpf said that the university has contacted their attorneys in an attempt to find a resolution that would both satisfy the law and work in the best interests of all involved. He expects some sort of resolution in as soon as a week.
In addition to now handing over all drugs to the police, all of the paraphernalia used for training purposes, such as bongs and bowls, have been destroyed by Public Safety, according to Pelazza.
posted by Steven Andrews at
4:11 PM
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