College of Charleston President Glenn McConnell ’69 issued the following statement to the campus community on June 30, 2016:

The College has always prided itself on its location in downtown Charleston. We know that our city and our surroundings are part of what draws students to our university. Like any urban university, the College’s campus is deeply woven into the community, which means our students will be exposed to all of the elements that exist throughout our society – the good and the bad.

We hold our students to high standards, both in terms of their academic performance as well as their behavior on and off campus. From the moment students enter the College they are educated about and constantly reminded of what it means to be representatives of the College and law-abiding citizens of our city. Our students know what is expected of them and that they should always act in ways that reflect positively on themselves, their families and their university. The vast majority of our students represent the very best ideals of the College on a daily basis, and they make our community stronger and more diverse.

But we also know that the process of growing up and becoming an adult means making mistakes and learning from those mistakes. For that reason, the College has a comprehensive system of rules and policies in place to discourage students from engaging in illicit behaviors, including any involvement with illegal drugs.

When we become aware of allegations that a student has violated our code of conduct, we investigate and, when appropriate, issue sanctions. We also recognize that drug addiction is a disease, and we have a wide range of counseling and support services available to assist students who may be struggling with substance abuse issues. This fall, following nearly a year of planning, the College will launch the Collegiate Recovery Program, which is a director-led, student-organized, support-based program for students in recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction.

We are always seeking ways to improve and evolve as a university and as an integral member of the Charleston community. In light of the recent arrests and the allegations of drug-related activity in close proximity to our campus, we are conducting a review of our existing educational outreach and student conduct policies to determine whether any adjustments are warranted. If there is anything more that we can do as a university to discourage even one additional student from making a poor decision involving alcohol or drugs, we will do it.

Furthermore, the College is exploring ways to partner with city leaders and others to form a task force that takes a comprehensive look at the use and abuse of drugs for non-medical reasons. The misuse of prescription pills and proliferation of synthetic drugs is a serious and growing problem in many communities nationwide, and the College can and should play a leading role in addressing this issue in Charleston. Last week, College Police Chief Robert Reese and I met with Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen to discuss the recent arrests and ways that the College, the city, and perhaps other local partners might work together to address this issue on multiple fronts. This was a productive meeting that demonstrated our shared commitment to ensuring the safety and health of all downtown residents and visitors.

Lastly, I want to say that I’m extremely disappointed and saddened that any student associated with the College of Charleston, former or current, would allegedly be involved in an organized operation devoted to illegal drugs. I know that I speak for our entire campus community in praising Charleston Police for their efforts to investigate and arrest the individuals allegedly involved in these activities. The manufacturing and supplying of illegal drugs is a destructive and corrosive force in Charleston and in any community. The College of Charleston does not and will not tolerate any such behavior by any member of our campus community. Any student or students found to be involved with the manufacture or supply of illegal drugs on or off campus will not only face criminal prosecution, but will also be dealt with in accordance with the College’s conduct procedures.

The City of Charleston and the College of Charleston have both worked hard over many years to develop a mutually beneficial and interdependent relationship. At the College, we recognize that one of our greatest assets as a university is our beloved Charleston – its history, culture, economy, and natural environment. The College must always remain vigilant and do its part to protect this collective treasure and to safeguard it as a special place where people want to live, work, play, and learn.

 

Glenn F. McConnell ’69

President

College of Charleston