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Policies, Safety, & U
A Publication of Student Affairs and Police Services
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To the University Community:
Concerns about drug and alcohol abuse and safety on campus
share in common our desire to promote to the fullest extent
possible the productivity of students, faculty, and staff. Drug
abuse and crime are destructive forces that divert time, energy,
and resources away from the educational and personal growth that
is the primary reason for being at Penn State.
Our learning community is not untouched by these adverse
societal trends, but we aspire to something better. We seek a
safe and drug-free environment not only out of concern for the
serious individual consequences of abusive or unlawful behavior,
but also that we may have a supportive campus environment
characterized by civility and respect. These qualities give us
all the freedom and security to pursue our goals, both personal
and collective. They require the commitment of everyone at Penn
State.
This publication contains information about drugs and their
abuse. It also describes campus safety measures and reports
statistics about crime in our University community. Please take
the time to read it. I urge you to be informed about and involved
in these important issues.
Graham B. Spanier
President
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Notice to Students
Federal law requires Penn State to notify annually all
students of the following: the unlawful possession, use,
distribution or manufacture of drugs and alcohol by students on
Penn State property or as part of University activities is
strictly prohibited.
Any student who violates this policy is subject to
University and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulations and
sanctions as outlined in Penn State Policies and Rules,
A Handbook for Students, and Pennsylvania law.
- Disciplinary sanctions may include:
- Warning, probation, referral for prosecution and/or the
completion of a substance abuse assistance program, suspension, dismissal or permanent expulsion, loss of privilege, restitution
and/or loss of University housing.
- Penalties for Violation of Relevant Drug and Alcohol
Statutes for Controlled Substances (drugs):
- Sanctions upon conviction for possession, distribution, or
manufacture of controlled substances range from fine to probation
to imprisonment. Amounts of fine, terms of probation, or years
of imprisonment are generally contingent upon the circumstances
and amounts of drugs in possession, sale, distribution or
manufacture. The term "controlled substance" as used in
this policy means those substances listed on page 4.
- Public Drunkenness:
- In Pennsylvania, it is against the law for people to appear in
public when intoxicated to the extent that they endanger
themselves or others. They may not annoy others as well or
endanger property. If convicted of such public drunkenness--a
summary offense--a fine of up to $300 and a jail sentence of up
to 90 days, or both, may be imposed.
- Open Container Law:
- In a car: No person may legally possess any open alcoholic
beverage in a vehicle in operation on a Pennsylvania highway.
This is a summary offense.
- On the streets: In Pennsylvania, there is no state law
to prohibit open containers of alcohol in public. However, many
local governments have enacted such ordinances.
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WHAT'S HOT...
- Serving as a designated driver
- Having fun and feeling good
- Participating in alcohol-free events
- Communicating clearly your needs and desires
WHAT'S NOT...
- Sitting in your car listening to a police officer ordering you out of it
- Waking up nauseous and headachy
- Being arrested, thrown in jail, paying fines, losing your license or going to court for yourself or someone you know who is drinking underage
- Allowing drugs or alcohol to lead you into violating someone else's rights or being violated
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Booze Briefs
- 93% of college students have used alcohol in their lifetime.
- 20 to 30% of college students have drinking problems.
- 85% of sexual assaults on campus were alcohol related.
- Over 7% of the freshman class will drop out of the University because of alcohol-related reasons.
- 41% of college students consume five or more drinks in a row--a practice that will intoxicate almost all.
- The typical student will probably spend more money for alcoholic beverages than for textbooks.
- A poll reported in the Wall Street Journal disclosed that 2 out of every 3 undergraduates admitted to driving while intoxicated.
- College students who are in high academic standing drink less in almost all situations than do their peers who are in low academic standing.
From Lewis Eigen. Alcohol Practices, Policies, and Potentials of American Colleges and Universities, A White Paper. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services,1991.
*For a complete listing of local drug and alcohol agencies and services, check the Guide to Human Services in the blue pages of your local telephone directory under "Alcohol and Drug Abuse" or "Drugs and Drug Abuse."
A driver's license will automatically be suspended if holder is caught doing any of the following:
- Lying about age to obtain alcohol;
- Drinking, purchasing, possessing or transporting alcohol;
- Carrying a false ID card while under the age of 21.
Suspension will occur whether or not you are near a car - 90
day manditory suspension for first offense, one year suspension
for second offense. You will pay a fine up to $500, and if you
don't yet have a license, your privileges will be suspended
beginning on your 16th birthday.
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Slam Your Head Into This
It makes as much sense as drinking and driving.
Definition:
A driver is considered legally intoxicated in Pennsylvania if
he or she is:
- Under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or a combination of both, to a degree which makes the person incapable of safe driving; or
- When his or her blood-alcohol content (BAC) is 0.10 or greater for those over 21.
The BAC
limit is .02.
for those under 21.
Penalties:
Citation can be issued for any alcohol in a minors system.
Driving under the influence is classified as a misdemeanor of the second degree. The maximum penalty is two year's imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine, PLUS an automatic loss of driving privileges for one year.
(75PA C.S.A. 3732) (Effective January 14, 1983)
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Adult Children of Alcoholics
Adult Children of Alcoholics have special strengths and
special weaknesses. One of every eight children in this country
grew to adulthood in a household directed by one or more
alcoholic parents--some 10 million Americans suffer from the
diseases of and addiction to alcoholism.
Common characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA):
- Guessing what normal is
- Difficulty finishing a project
- Lying when it is easy to tell the truth
- Judging themselves without mercy
- Difficulty having fun
- Taking themselves very seriously
- Difficulty with intimate relationships
- Constantly seeking approval and affirmation
- Feeling different from others
- Acting super-responsible or super-irresponsible
- Being extremely loyal, even in the face of evidence that
the loyalty is undeserved.
Assistance for adult children of alcoholics and others ranges
from self-help books and ACOA peer support groups to personal
therapy. If you suffer from problems common to adult children of
alcoholics, decide what is best for you. You may begin with local
community or on-campus resources.
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Alcohol and Other Drugs
(Am I using them or are they using me?)
- Do you drink or take drugs to make yourself feel better
if you're having a hard time at work or at home?
- Has your drinking/drug using increased in the last two
years, year, six months?
- Are you annoyed or defensive if anyone mentions your
alcohol/drug use?
- Have you ever tried to limit your drinking/drug use by
using only at a certain time of day or on certain days of
the week?
- Do you start drinking or using drugs sooner, and stop
using later, than most of your friends?
- Have you had a morning drink or hit in the past year?
- Has your drinking/drug use ever caused you problems at
home or at work?
- Do you ever feel guilty or regretful about how you've
behaved when you're using?
- Have you ever had a memory lapse after an evening of
drinking/using?
- Do you secretly worry that your use of chemicals is
damaging your life?
If you answered "yes" to two or more questions,
there is a good chance that you may be heading for a dangerous
alcohol or other drug problem - if you don't aleady have one.
Only you know the truth about your own chemical use.
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Annual Security Report
Penn State Altoona's annual security report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning crimes reported to local police agencies or to campus security authorities that occurred on campus; in certain off campus buildings, owned or controlled by Penn State Altoona; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The statistics reported here generally reflect the number of criminal incidents reported to the various authorities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. This report complies with Federal reporting requirements, specifically 20 U.S. Code Section 1092(f).
Click here for Penn State Altoona's Crime Statistics
Controlled Substances Act
| Schedule of Controlled Substance Categories and Examples |
Penalty For Felony Delivery and Obtaining Possession thru Forgery or Fraud |
Penalty For Misdemeanor Possession |
| SCHEDULE I: Drugs with no accepted medical use in the U.S. and a high potential for abuse. |
| Narcotic (ex. Heroin) |
Jail: 15 years
Fine: $250,000.00* |
Jail: 1 year
Fine: $5,000.00 |
| Non-Narcotic (ex. LSD, Methaqualone, Mescaline) |
Jail: 5 years
Fine: $15,000.00 |
Jail: 1 year
Fine: $5,000.00 |
| Special (Phencyclidine (PCP), Cocaine (& Crack), Marijuana over 1,000 lbs., Methamphetamine) |
Jail: 10 years
Fine: $100,000.00* |
Jail: 1 year
Fine: $5,000.00 |
Marijuana & Hashish:
Under 1,000 lbs.
Under 30 grams
Under 8 grams |
Jail: 5 years
Fine: $15,000.00
** |
Jail: 1 year
Fine: $5,000.00
Jail: 30 days
Fine: $500.00 |
| SCHEDULE II: Drugs with a high potential for abuse; with severe psychic or physical dependence possible, but also having an accepted medical use. |
| Narcotic (ex. Morphine, Methadone) |
Jail: 15 years
Fine: $250,000.00* |
Jail: 1 year
Fine: $5,000.00 |
| Non-Narcotic (Amphetamine, Barbiturate) |
Jail: 5 years
Fine: $15,000.00 |
Jail: 1 year
Fine: $5,000.00 |
| SCHEDULE III: Drugs with less abuse potential than Schedule II; and an accepted medical use. |
| Codeine Compounds, Tincture of Opium, Phendimetrazine |
Jail: 5 years
Fine: $15,000.00 |
Jail: 1 year
Fine: $5,000.00 |
| SCHEDULE IV: Drugs with a lower potential for abuse and an accepted medical use. |
| Valium, Ativan |
Jail: 3 years
Fine: $10,000.00 |
Jail: 1 year
Fine: $5,000.00 |
| SCHEDULE V: Drugs with a low potential for abuse and an accepted medical use. |
| Parapectolin |
Misdemeanor
Jail: 1 year
Fine: $5,000.00 |
Jail: 1 year
Fine: $5,000.00 |
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Footnotes:
| * |
A fine of any larger amount is allowed to exhaust the
assets or profits of the Illegal Manufacture or
distribution of these Controlled Substances. |
| ** |
The Possession of a small amount of marijuana or
hashish has no separate penalties for delivery. |
| *** |
The above are PA state laws 204PA Code 303.1
303.9. Federal law also allows for increased fine and the
possibility of loss of property, federal grants as
defined by the Controlled Substances Act and regulation
21CFR 1300.11 1300.15. |
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Weapons
The possession, carrying and use of weapons, ammunition, or
explosives is prohibited on University owned or controlled
property.The only exception is for authorized law-enforcement officers
or other persons specifically authorized by the University.
Hunting on the undeveloped areas of University property is
permitted for licensed hunters during hunting season. University Police provides storage facilities for the personal weapons of
members of the University community. Failure to comply with the
University weapons policy will result in disciplinary action
against violators.
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