This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Rowan chapter.
Lisa Tischio, senior double major in Psychology and Applied Sociology and president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy and has worked on reforming Rowan’s drug policy so that it is not based on punishment, but instead health and education. This club has had conversations with administration about the harmful and strict drug policy, worked to gain student support against these policies, gotten petitions signed against the dorm eviction policy and presented resolutions to the student government in regards to changing policy.
Tischio explains the club works to educate the community about policy and drugs in general. This includes presentations about the rights you have when dealing with the police, as well as honest and science based drug education. Tischio and the whole club want people to know, “By no means does the club encourage drug use (which unfortunately many people believe). Instead we understand that drug use is a prominent aspect of the college experience and we aim to educate students so that they can make informed decisions about drug use.”
1. How did you get involved with this club and move up to president?
I got involved during my sophomore year because some of my friends were members and they told me about this really rad club that was organizing to change Rowan’s policy regarding drugs and alcohol in the hopes to end dorm eviction. In addition, they were starting conversations regarding honest drug education and harm reduction approaches to substance use, which I believe is so important in a college culture that fosters drug use and an environment where many students are introduced to different substances. During my junior year I served as secretary for the club and became much more involved and dedicated to the work that was being done. From there I was elected president for the 2014-2015 year.
2. How long has this club existed at Rowan? How many members are there?
The Rowan SSDP chapter was started five years ago by students who were personally effected by Rowan’s dorm eviction policy, which kicks students out of their on campus housing for first time, non-violent drug offenses without any refunds for their housing. Not given any safe place to stay after being immediately removed at the time of the incident, and having to struggle to find places off-campus to stay in order to attend classes, the founding students realized how harmful Rowan’s zero tolerance policy was and decided to organize to change it. Currently, the club has about 15 members, but over the years we have received support from hundreds of Rowan students who have signed petitions to end dorm eviction policy, prioritize substance abuse treatment and education over punishment, and make policy regarding marijuana similar to that of alcohol, which is not as harsh.
3. What have you accomplished so far this year between your meetings with administration and SGA?
This year we have not yet met with administration, but we are currently working on a campaign to reduce the punishment for offenses regarding possession or use of marijuana. Currently such offenses are punished much more harshly than alcohol offenses, yet marijuana is much less dangerous of a substance. As public opinion and policies are changing in regards to marijuana, with many states legalizing it for medical and recreational use, we do not believe it’s fair that students at Rowan could lose their housing or education if caught with it. This past year we have worked on getting students support through petitions for a policy change, and we plan to present a resolution to the Student Government before the end of the semester that will hopefully gain their support for the policy change as well. In addition, this past Fall one of our members has started a program called House the Evicted, which aims to counteract the dorm eviction policy by helping students who have been kicked out of their housing find some place off campus to stay while they await their disciplinary hearing.
In past meetings with administration, we have been able to start the conversation of what a more sensible drug policy could look like and have provided students’ perspectives for how the current policy is detrimental to the needs of students. Unfortunately, much of administration is not receptive to the students’ opinions, and regardless of the SGA resolutions we have already passed or the petitions we have had signed, they still push back against policy change. However, we were able to sway their opinions regarding disciplinary hearings. Previously, hearings were strictly closed but since our discussions with the Vice President for Civic Involvement, students may now request to have an open hearing in order to better ensure that they receive fair punishment for their offense.
4. Where do you see this club going? What do you hope to accomplish within the next few years?
Within the next few years, I hope to see a policy in which students are not removed from their on-campus housing for first time nonviolent drug offenses. Rowan’s zero tolerance drug policy does not stop or prevent the use of drugs, and these harsh punishments won’t make the campus drug-free. Instead, our current policy jeopardizes students’ access to education and does nothing to help students who may be struggling with an addiction. I believe that a sensible drug policy is one that recognizes the reality of drug use on college campuses while taking a harm reduction approach that aims to educate our students about drug use, and provides treatment and resources for students who may have a problem with substance abuse. I believe that SSDP will continue to challenge Rowan’s drug policy until it has the best interest of our community, and in the process I hope we are able to engage more students to get involved in making the changes they want to see in the university that our tuition largely funds!
