• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1996-11-21_Vol62_No14_02

2 Thursday, November 211996 News utfie Western Carolinian Smoke Up Worry-Free COMMENTARY BY MANNY O'BLUNTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER Marijuana use on campus has undergone a steady increase since the beginning of the semester, according to Public Safety. Many college students do not consider pot use a problem, however; to them, it's a fact of life. The true problem, in their view, is the number of people who have stupidly gotten caught by campus security. Obviously, many WCU students have forgotten how to smoke up safely and securely. To prevent any further disasters, a handful of students are coming out of the "growing closet" to give their advice on how to smoke on campus without the fear of getting caught. "The first rule to smoking securely," says longtime WCU toker Jon Longdrag, "is to be smart. Don't do stupid stuff like just light up in your room with no precautions." Catamount hemper Shawn Greenleaf seconds this opinion, offering this advice: "Always, man, I mean always, put a towel under the door. It's even better if you can get it wet; that way the smell stays in the room." "Open the window all the way," says Bud Stokes. "Be sure there is a fan in the room. Turn it on and let it blow out the open window. Lots of smokers go wrong by just letting the fan blow. That's a sure-fire way to get caught." Other students offer more in-depth advice. Mary Jane Bowles says a bong is best for buzzing in your room. "The smoke is more concentrated and you don't get all that extraneous shit floating out the sides like you do in pipes or joints," Bowles said. Jerri Wilkee, a freshman weedhead, tells of an old high school trick. "We used to keep an empty paper towel or toilet paper roll around stuffed with fabric softener," he says. "After we dragged real heavy, we'd hold in, see, for a long-ass time! Then we'd take the roll and go to the window and blow out our load. It's the best way of keeping the smoke out that I know of; as long as you keep the blinds down, you're safe." [Note: According to Public Safety Director Gene McAbee, this type of device constitutes drug paraphernalia, which is a more serious charge than simple marijuana possession.] Greenleaf adds, "All that's left is to find a designated listener." Like a designated driver, "the D.L. listens at the door while everyone else gets high. If anything sounds funny—and when you got some kind bud [slang for high-quality marijuana] it usually does—he or she lets you know to cash the stash, preferably in the toilet." Bowles also uses a D.L., but says, "Be careful with your D.L. Most of the time they wait for you to get messed up and sneak drags while you're looking at the ceiling. If this happens, the risks go back up, 'cause pretty soon you're all gonna be laughing like hell." Some students don't like smoking in their rooms, though. For them, let me offer this advice: I've been smoking on campus under the bell tower, outside the cafeteria, in the snack room at the library, everywhere, all 12 semesters that I've been up here, and when I finally graduate three years from now, I will be able to honestly tell you I never got caught. Here's how you can brag the same: Always wear a sweater with long sleeves. Wrap some cardboard around the inside of the sleeve you're going to be toking from. Tape usually helps hold it the best. This way, you can always let some of the sleeve hang over your hand with the joint secure in your sweater between drags. The cardboard takes care of any burn holes you might have gotten in your clothes and hides that joyous little red glow that makes life so good. So, marijuana mongers, take heed: there are many safe and secure ways to smoke on campus without getting caught. Longdrag sums it up best: " Just be practical; use your head, then lose your head." The writer of this article has used pseudonyms to protect his sources. Public Safety Highlights 11/13 • A student reported that her ATM card -was stolen and used to withdraw $300 from her account at Wachovia Bank. • A member of the faculty reported that a clock was stolen from the wall of his office on the 3rd floor of Killian between 11/8 and 11/11. • Officers responded to a domestic dispute on the 6th floor of Scott and banned a male non-student from campus at 5:38 p.m. • A student reported that his keys were stolen from the door of his room at 9:30 p.m. • Officers responded to a report of the odor of marijuana on the 3rd floor of Harrill at 11:05 p.m. No odor was detected. • A student in Benton cut an artery in his arm when his hand went through a fire extinguisher glass at 12:15 a.m. The bleeding was controlled and the student was transported to the Emergency Room for surgery. • Officers responded to a report of a loud party in Benton at 12:35 a.m. The occupants of a room on the 3rd floor were asked to keep the noise down. 11/14 • A student reported he left his wallet in the snack bar at Hunter Library and it was missing at 11:30 p.m. • Officers assisted an emotionally disturbed student in McKee, Coulter, and Killian from 12:15 to 2:20 p.m. Family members picked up the student. • A student reported that a spare tire cover was stolen from his vehicle between 11/10 and 11/12 while it was parked in the Field House Lot. • Officers assisted the Physical Plant at Natural Science where a hydraulic line on an elevator broke and fluid sprayed over the first floor hallway at 2:05 p.m. Two students who were on the elevator sustained no injuries. • Officers warned two students about the campus skateboarding policy on Centennial Drive at 6:10 AM. 11/15 • A student reported that his car was damaged while it was parked in the Field House lot between 11:00 p.m. on 11/14 and 10:00 a.m. on 11/15. • Students reported two male non-students selling magazines in Robertson at 3:18 p.m. Officers apprehended the subjects and banned them from campus for violation of the University solicitation policy. • In connection with the theft of spare tire cover reported yesterday, officers arrested a male student on charges of larceny and recovered the item. Court date is December 3- • A student reported that the canvas top from his vehicle was stolen while the car was parked in the staff lot at Dodson between 9:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. • Officers cited a male student for underage possession of beer after finding the student with an open beer in a vehicle during a traffic stop at 12:35 a.m. • Officers pursued a vehicle which was speeding through campus and arrested the driver on North Country Club Drive for speeding to elude arrest, reckless driving, expired operator's license, and expired inspection. A passenger in the vehicle was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Both were male non-students. Court date is December 2. 11/16 • Officers identified a suspect in connection with damage to windows at the Belk Building reported last week. The male student admitted hitting golf balls toward the buillding and breaking the windows. Disposition is pending. • A student in Scott reported that someone had poured beer all over a bathroom on the third floor and torn namecards from room doors at 12:40 p.m. Suspects are identified and referred to Housing for disciplinary action. • A student reported that a license plate was stolen from his vehicle while it was parked near Harrill between 11/15 and 11/16. • Ushers confiscated a student ID card from a non-student at the WCU/ASU football game. Two ASU students were ejected late in the game for being intoxicated and disruptive on the visiting team sidelines. • A student reported that several articles, including her purse and a laptop computer, were stolen from her work area at Hunter Library between 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. All articles except $40 in cash were found in the women's restroom. • A student reported that his car was damaged by a hit & run driver while it was parked in the Methodist Church Lot. • Officers responded to a report of marijuana smoke on the 9th floor of Harrill at 8:30 p.m. • Officers assisted Housing staff with a loud party on the ground floor of Albright at 9:42 p.m. and referred the residents of the room to Housing for disciplinary action. • Officers responded to a report of marijuana smoke on the ground floor of Benton at9:55 p.m. on 11/16 and referred residents of the room to Housing disciplinary action. • Officers cited a male student for underage possession of liquor at 10:52p.m. 11/17 •"' Officers responded to Benton where an intoxicated student had hit several people in the hallways at 3:00 a.m. A warrant was drawn charging the student with one count of assault. Other charges are pending. • Two students were referred to Student Development for second contacts on violations of the University's policy on skateboarding. 11/18 • Officers arrested a male student for obstructing and delaying a police officer at 9:55 a.m. in Albright. • In connection with an assault which occurred in Benton Saturday night, officers arrested a male student on charges of simple assault at 12:30 p.m. • Officers responded to a report of marijuana smoke in Walker at 10:15 p.m. and referred the violation to Housing for follow-up action. • A student reported a suspicious person near the Administration Building at 10:30 p.m. • Officers responded to a report of objects being thrown from a window in Leatherwood at 1:00 a.m. 11/19 • A student reported that his keys were stolen from his room between 11/16 and 11/17. • A student reported a stolen license plate at 4:00 p.m. • Officers found a vehicle which contained a loaded .22 calibre revolver at 9:30 a.m. near Killian Annex. Officers confiscated the weapon, found that the student had brought the weapon to campus unintentionally, and referred the incident to Student Development for disciplinary action. • Officers assisted Housing staff with a report of the odor of marijuana in Albright at 4:45 p.m. • Officers referred a student to Student Development for a third violation of the skateboarding policy at 2:38 a.m. ROTC Discontinued ■ A result of downsizing, lack of enrollment PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY ROTC The last of the Mohicans: (left to right! Kneeling: Putnam, Miller, Curtis; Back: Willis, Hill. Hogsed. KEVIN MCPHERSON STAFF WRITER "Do you want a picture of 'The Last of the Mohicans'?" asked Lt. Colonel Jerry Darnell, searching through a file box on his desk. Darnell, who heads Western's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, was hunting for a recent photo of the six cadets in the last class of WCU's ROTC program. Like the original Mohicans in James Fenimore Cooper's novel, Darnell's Army ROTC cadets at WCU will soon be gone. The 21-year-old unit will officially close at the end of the 1996-97 academic year, Darnell said. Budget cuts and a decline in the need for Army lieutenants prompted the Department of the Army to scuttle its Cullowhee operation, one of 31 to be closed nationwide. Units at Davidson, Presbyterian College, and Francis Marion will also be closed soon. Nearly ten years of nationwide cutbacks have reduced Army ROTC programs by 35 percent. Downsizing is one reason for the closure, but Darnell also attributes the deactivation to a lack of cadet enrollment. At its peak in the early to mid- 1980s, the ROTC program at Western produced as many as 15 lieutenants per year. In May 1997, Chris Hill of Kernersville will be the only cadet to earn a commission. Darnell said the remaining cadets are all juniors who will complete the ROTC program after Western's unit ceases to operate. He saw no clear reason for the declining numbers. "Students just do not want to go into the Army," Darnell said. "When I got here, I worked with Arts and Sciences to recruit—we went to open house events, we called vets, we posted fliers in dorms." Darnell also said that he has a good relationship with university administration. University officials were told of the closing in May 1996. Chancellor John Bardo called the closing "unfortunate." "Small programs like ours tend not to be seen as cost-effective," Bardo said. "It reflects the reductions being made at the federal level in funding." Army officials have been evaluating the situation at Western and other schools for some time. After studying the program's history, they based their decision to shut it down on a long probationary process. The evaluation of the WCU program spanned three to four years and required the program to show significant increases in enrollment in order to survive. To make certain the six remaining cadets are able to complete the program and earn a commission, they are being allowed to take courses normally reserved for seniors. The cadets must finish academic work required by the program and the university in order to earn their commissions. "A lot depends on the cadets. They need a good GPA to get what they want," Darnell said. "They will still have to go to advanced camp. The assessment in leadership skills at the camp means a lot, too." During the six-week advanced camp at Ft. Bragg, 2,200 senior cadets will be evaluated in leadership skills and other factors. After the cadets have left the program Darnell will be reassigned by the Army. Other personnel, including two non-commissioned officers and two civilians, will probably be transferred to other parts of the country. Donn Forrest, a civilian employee, has been working for the Army since 1988 and has been at Western since 1991. "For me, it's either transfer or retire," he said. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do." The other civilian employee, Floyd Ramey, is looking for possible reassignment at the University of Central Arkansas. Although constant change is part of the Army lifestyle, ROTC f ac- ulty and cadets alike are disap pointed that they are the last of a long line of soldiers here. "I hate to see the program go," said Master Sergeant Ronald Morgan. "Due to the lack of interest, it's probably best." Sergeant First Class Timothy Westbrook, an active duty soldier, feels much the same way. However, his disappointment in the closing of the unit is deeper than simply having to move on to another post. "I like this area," he said. "When I came here, this place provided me a chance to re-focus." Westbrook said of the program's closing, "It's just the luck of the draw. It's pushing away from the role of the military [in colleges]." He also believes students will lose a lot o|ppRprtunity because, he says, military experience lofaks goad to prospective employers. The move to deactivate Western's ROTC unit has also had a significant impact on the cadets. Cadet Stuart Curtis of Waynesville said the unit's closing would not have a profound effect on his military career. But, he added, the accelerated academic workload puts a strain on everyone in the program. "We could not do any recruiting," said Curtis. "Since there were no freshman or sophomore courses offered, six people [versus the typical 45 or so] have been doing everything. Students who may have wanted ROTC were denied the opportunity." Cadet Brad Hogsed of Franklin stated, "What's really bad is that when we get back from camp next summer, everything will be gone." Even though cadets in the program are feeling the strain of closing, they are also counting their blessings. "I feel fortunate to get to finish the program," said Cadet Chad Miller of Asheville. When fall semester 1997 rolls around, ROTC will have disappeared from Western's landscape, probably for good. The ^European Ambience Gracious Lodging Genial Hosts Nestled in a mountain cove with fabulous views from private balcony or great room with fireplace. 22 acres with brook, trails, picnic area & lawn games. Secluded, but only 18 minutes from WCU. 4 rooms & 2 suites. Please call for a reservation: 586-0251 hannockstS hand crafted jewelry &■ unique gifts ^k^/r' S86-03S0 J} Aroma Therapy Cool decorative items Jewelry • Rugs • Toys Candles • Alphabet beads • T - shirts Books • Charms • Plants ^^^^^^^^^^_ %10 off all items except consignment until Chnistmas with THIS AD! 11-5 Monday, Wednesday & Thursday/ 10-5 Friday & Saturday/ 12-5 Sunday Located in HAMILTON COURT on Bus 23 in Dillsborq

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1996-11-21
  • Date digitized: 2019-12-04
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.5" x 14"
  • Pages: 12 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
  • Western Carolina University -- Periodicals
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1996-11-21_Vol62_No14
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library