Grinnell College
- Drug Safety

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The administration and a large majority of students believe that Grinnell has a drug problem. The College’s alcohol policy is almost nonexistent. While students are not permitted to have open containers on or around campus grounds, this is not entirely enforced. Local police rarely get involved in school functions and will even make exceptions for events. Most theft and destruction is done by people under the influence. While it’s fairly safe to leave your bike unlocked on a Monday, if left on a Friday, it’s likely to be stolen and crashed by a drunken reveler. Drunks also leave messes in hall lounges, and it’s not uncommon to see puke in hallways. Every few months, an article will show up in the Scarlet & Black about a student taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. This is when the College intervenes and demands professional help. However, the self-governance ethos that permeates the campus generally means that when people get out of control, their peers have the responsibility and capacity to bring them in/put them to bed.

Marijuana is also commonly used by Grinnell students but seems to have far less destructive effects. It seems that most have experimented with it at some point. The College generally ignores it, despite the pungent odor that wafts from one hallway to the next, but occasionally the local police do get involved. While warrants are almost never obtained merely for possession, once every one or two years, students are taken in on charges of possession with intent to sell. This can carry some heavy penalties. Most have been able to get off relatively light.

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Drug Safety at Grinnell College

LovelyOleander

Mathematics & Statistics '15

4.2

A-

There If You Want It (Usually), Not There If You Dont

There are drugs on campus for those who want it. South campus is where most of the "hippie drug-user" types live. This is not to say that they are any less focused on school. If you are not into that type of thing, there is plenty of sub-free housing, and east campus is a fairly drug-free environment.

Apr 06, 2012

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Drug Safety at Grinnell College

evansemi

English '13

5.0

A+

Self-Gov Is Love

Grinnell College adheres to a policy called "Self Governance". This basically means that the administration allows us some leeway in terms of drug and alcohol use, as long as we act responsibly and take care of each other. Most students drink, a good percentage of these same students smoke weed (very few other drugs are imbibed besides some acid on special occasions), and those who choose to abstain from it all don't get any flack for it.

May 03, 2011

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Drug Safety at Grinnell College

Anonymous

Grinnell College Student

4.2

A-

Its There If You Want but Not If You Don't.

There is definitely a drug culture. On South Campus it is moderately more prevalent, however each side of campus has substance free dorms, and there is not a whole lot of judging from either perspective.

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Name the most popular drugs on campus.

How would you describe the drug scene on campus (not including alcohol)?

How would you describe the social drinking scene on campus?

How much access do underage students have to alcohol?

How does peer pressure affect students’ use of drugs and alcohol?

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