What happens to students caught with drugs on campus

Nearly 2,000 people were arrested for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana in Tennessee in 2013. Those caught could receive a misdemeanor citation, a year incarcerated and a $250 fine. Students of the University of Memphis could lose a lot more. 

In 2015, there were 43 drug offenses on campus at the U of M. That is roughly twice as many drug offenses as the previous three years. 

Interim chief of campus police Derek Myers said students caught with small amounts of drugs are given a misdemeanor citation and could face probation, suspension or loss of student housing. 

“If [students] just have the smell of marijuana, but no drugs or paraphernalia, they get referred to student conduct,†Myers said. “If they are not a student, they just get told to not be on campus.â€Â 

On July 19, a man was found sleeping in the Innovation Garage. When police approached the man, later identified as Brian Okunbor, he threw drugs and paraphernalia into a nearby trashcan. He was charged and arrested for unlawful drug paraphernalia and possession. 

Okunbor, a repeat offender for theft and several motor vehicle violations on campus, was not a current student at the University of Memphis. Myers said that if Okunbor was a student, he would also have been referred to the Office of Student Conduct. 

 

"He was cool about it, but I was charged with a misdemeanor. I have to go to court, but the police told me when I go there to say ‘I’m sorry’ and they’ll drop it. I’ll just be in trouble with the school."

However, some students reported for possession have said they only received a warning. 

“They didn’t allow me to go back to my room, but after I was allowed in, they talked to me about what happened,†a student at the University of Memphis said. “They asked if I knew it was illegal, and since the amount of it was small I wasn’t charged, but I did have to go to Student Conduct and talk to them.â€Â 

A freshman at U of M, who asked not to be identified, said he received a more severe consequence from campus police. 

“I had a blunt, but I wasn’t smoking it,†the 18-year-old said. “My roommate smelled it and thought I was smoking, so he called the police. They came and asked me if I had anymore. I told him I didn’t. So, then he told me, ‘Well, next time just don’t have it, but I have to write you up since you’re on campus.’ He was cool about it, but I was charged with a misdemeanor. I have to go to court, but the police told me when I go there to say ‘I’m sorry’ and they’ll drop it. I’ll just be in trouble with the school.â€Â 

Myers said being referred to the Office of Student Conduct can lead to sanctions and even suspensions. 

“That’s what we try to impress upon students. Regardless of what happens to you on the criminal end, you are here to get an education,†Myers said. “If you have scholarships and grants, you don’t want to risk those, so don’t get in trouble.â€Â 

This semester, there have been at least four cases of students in possession of drugs: two from the Carpenter Complex and two from Centennial Place. 

“As a student, depending on what the offense is, you can always be criminally charged for something and student disciplined,†Myers said. “But if you aren’t a student, we either trespass you or criminally charge you.â€Â