Drugs, alcohol not tolerated

When a female student lost her purse on campus last month, someone turned it into the Safety and Security office. Later that day, the owner came to claim her purse and its contents — which included approximately two ounces of marijuana.

The student was issued a student misconduct form. Police were called but no charges were filed.

Last semester, campus security officers suspected two male students of smoking marijuana after smelling the drug’s odor on them.

The officers had no physical evidence; however, one student was suspended and the other was turned over to the Oklahoma City Police Department.

Why the discrepancy in the two cases?

Ike Sloas, Safety and Security director, said, in the case involving the purse, “the Oklahoma City Police Department decided the chain of custody was broken when the purse was left in the bathroom.”

Sloas said the OCPD is called on every criminal issue.

“Any amount of alcohol or drugs on campus will be a criminal offense,” he said. “We call OCPD and they give us a determination whether or not [they] will want to charge.”

After a report is filed with Safety and Security, any disciplinary action that might be taken against a student is determined by Vice President for Student Services Marion Paden.

Mary Candler, Student Relations director, said she reviews all student misconduct forms “to see if there are sufficient grounds to proceed.”

“If there are, then we go through the disciplinary process,” she said

The disciplinary process includes notification, initial conference, initial disciplinary decision and, if necessary, appeals process.

Student conduct violations that can result in suspension from college course-work are false reporting of a bomb, fire or other emergency; violation of drug and alcohol policy; lewd, indecent or obscene conduct; possession or use of firearms, weapons, ammunition,fireworks and explosives; any form of tobacco use in any college building or vehicle; physical or verbal abuse of any person on college owned property and all forms of dishonesty such as cheating, Candler said.

“At this time, a disciplinary record at [OCCC] is a permanent educational record, kept in the Office of the Vice President for Student Services,” Candler said.

“However, when a student is expelled, a record of the expulsion will be a part of the student’s permanent record in the Records and Graduation Services Office.”

A student can appeal a suspension by getting a student conduct committee hearing request form available in the office of the Vice President for Student Services.

The student must file the form. A committee is then assembled to oversee the hearing.

The committee, consisting of faculty, staff, students and a non-voting chairperson, is chosen by a lottery after the student makes the request.

“OCCC has a Student Code of Conduct that assists students in understanding the college’s expectations regarding acceptable behavior,” Candler said.

“Any student, faculty or staff member can file an official complaint against a student for a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.”

Staff Writer Holly Jones can be reached at StaffWriter1@occc.edu.