The editor would like to thank all involved for their time and effort on this edition of The Voice.

The opinions expressed in any Sweet Briar College publication or other forms of media are not necessarily those of the students, faculty, staff or administration. Therefore, Sweet Briar College is not responsible for its content.

Editorials represent the opinion(s) of the editor(s) and/or staff/guest writer(s).

This site is maintained by Anne Proctor. Please email any questions or comments concerning the web site to her.

Hampden-Sydney Drug Bust Shocks Students
By Katy Johnstone '10
STAFF WRITER

The morning of April 11, 2007, began as an average Wednesday for students at Hampden-Sydney College. With the end of the school year quickly approaching and the festivities of Greek Week in full swing, it was highly unlikely those attending the all-male institution had any idea that the lives of 14 of their peers would soon be dramatically altered in a few hours.

By midday, however, the campus was a bee’s nest of activity. Law enforcement officers, police cars, and government officials swarmed throughout the school’s campus. Students were dragged out of their dorm rooms and classrooms, then promptly—and publicly—arrested.

Their crime? Distribution and possession of illegal drugs.

“It felt like Hampden-Sydney was hosting an episode of Cops,” described one anonymous student.

The combined effort of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Farmville Police Department, Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, and the Virginia Department of Alcohol Beverage Control led to the arrests of 17 students. In addition to the 14 from H-SC, 3 attended Longwood University. Both schools are located in Farmville.

Seven of the students were arrested on federal charges. James Ponton, Chance Moore, Murray Webb, and Jeffrey Roberts were charged with Distribution of Cocaine Powder. If convicted, each faces a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 40 years in prison.

Wesley Howell, Thomas Putnam, and Troiani Meyers were charged with Distribution of Marijuana. If convicted, each faces a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 10 years in prison.

The rest of the students were arrested on state charges. Anderson Howerton, Lantz Wilson, Michael Brandon Jr., David Newsome, Adam Ward, Robert Beck, and Andrew Armentrout were charged with Distribution of Marijuana and Distribution of Marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school.

Howard Bullock, Mark Bagby, Curtis Springer, and Chad Harvey were charged with Distribution of Schedule I or II controlled substance, or with Distribution of Imitation Schedule I or II controlled substances.

Brandon, Newsome, and Harvey attend Longwood, and Ward does not attend either school.

The arrests resulted in the seizure of $12,500 in cash, 32 grams of cocaine with a street value of $3,500, 2 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $6,000, and 8 vehicles.

The offenses were alleged to have occurred during the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 semesters. According to the DEA, the H-SC administration and Department of Security and Police cooperated completely and assisted in the arrests.

Following the arrests, Hampden-Sydney issued a statement saying the school has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal substances, and that once officials learned of the allegations, they “readily agreed to assist in the investigation in every way.”

Longwood responded similarly. “We strongly uphold a strict zero tolerance policy with regard to the illegal distribution, possession, or use of drugs as stated in the Longwood student handbook and will assist law enforcement agencies in regard to the investigation and charges,” said Longwood President Patricia P. Cormier.

The students at both schools have been suspended pending trial. At least two H-SC students were seniors who would have graduated this May, school officials reported.

How did the rest of the student body react to these dramatic events?

“I was definitely surprised by the arrests, as was everyone,” reported one student.

“I was [angry] when I heard about the arrests,” said another. “I feel the school’s administration did not act in the best interest of the public’s perception of the college.”

Many seem to share the opinion that the Hampden-Sydney officials did not handle the situation well.

“Agents of the college, including the police force and resident advisors, do not intervene in drug related matters for the most part, due to the isolation of our community—rarely is anyone hurt or negatively affected by drug use other than users/dealers,” one student said.

Others believed that there should have been more warnings prior to the raid—the administration gave 2 before the bust—and complained that so many resources were used for the bust when it occurred at such a small school.

Nevertheless, most seemed to believe that the arrests were justified.

“They all took the calculated risk when they involved themselves with drugs and unfortunately had to pay a hefty price,” one student said.

Hampden-Sydney has a well-known reputation among its surrounding institutions, including Sweet Briar, as a “party school,” with drugs and alcohol readily accessible to virtually anyone. There are several possible factors that contribute to this viewpoint.

“Since H-SC's campus is somewhat out of the way I think it does create a feeling of insulation from the real world,” one student reported. “As a result, I think people feel, on a conscious or subconscious level, that the probability of being caught for something like this is at least somewhat less for them than it would be if they lived in a more urban area.”

“I think the level of wealth on campus promoted the drug use,” another said. However, he went on to point out that “the same demographic of wealth, not just white elite men, on any campus engage in the same activities. This is not an H-SC problem, it’s a nationwide university problem.”

This seems to be a valid point. According to a study conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2002 to 2004, 37.5% of full-time college students ages 18-22 have used illicit drugs. The study also found that 40% of college males have used drugs, but only 35.3% of college females have done so.

Ironically, the Richmond-Times Dispatch published a front-page article praising Hampden-Sydney the day before the bust. It discussed how, despite the popular decision of most colleges to go co-ed, H-SC stayed true to its all-male roots and is now thriving. The number of applicants has more than doubled in the last 10 years, and the Fall 2006 semester began with the largest enrollment in the institution’s history.

The arrests do not seem to have changed any students’ opinions about the college.

“My friends and I love to party at Hampden-Sydney,” said one SBC student. “We’ll still go, we’re just more careful about where we are and who we’re around. We don’t want to be associated with drug users.”

When asked whether or not the bust will have a long-term affect on the institution, most H-SC students were very adamant in their beliefs.

“Not in the least,” one student said. Though he thinks drug users and dealers may be more cautious right now, “things will be exactly the same come the beginning of next year.”