Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 3, 1991 TAG: 9104030617
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: BONNIE V. WINSTON/ LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
"While I am not pushing it, I wouldn't object to drug testing," Wilder told reporters after announcing creation of a task force on college drug and alcohol abuse and sexual assault.
"The task force would have to look into such questions as whether it would be a requirement and how Draconian it is," Wilder said. He believes mandatory testing would be constitutional, Wilder added; the only barrier would be its practicality.
Wilder called state college and university presidents to Richmond to announce formation of the task force. He has sought to toughen his public stand against drug use in the wake of a March 21 police raid on three fraternity houses at the University of Virginia.
Twelve students were arrested on federal and state charges of selling drugs to undercover officers during 1990. Federal authorities seized the three houses, which reportedly have a combined worth of more than $1 million, and announced plans to sell them under the federal drug asset-forfeiture law.
UVa President John Casteen was non-committal on the governor's pronouncement. "I must have a concrete proposal before I can respond," he said. "Whoever would give you a simple answer doesn't understand the problems associated with drug testing."
Casteen was president of the University of Connecticut when the NCAA conducted field tests there to devise its current drug-testing policy for athletes during post-season play.
The national publicity given the UVa bust has brought suggestions that Wilder may make the task force recommendations the basis of a national drug platform for his presidential campaign. The governor last week announced formation of an exploratory committee for the 1992 contest.
Wilder would not comment Tuesday on those suggestions. "I didn't create this situation," he said.
The college presidents had few questions for Wilder during their brief meeting. He told them it is important for parents to understand that students are entering drug-free environments when they enroll in Virginia's institutions of higher learning.
"If it has been tolerated at home, tolerated in the community, it will not be tolerated on our campuses," he said.
The task force also will focus on sexual assault on campus, which Wilder said often is linked to alcohol and substance use and abuse.
The chairmen will be James Dyke Jr., state secretary of education, and Robert Suthard, state secretary of public safety. Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer will be on the panel, along with as yet unannounced public and private university presidents, law enforcement officials, students and representatives from the attorney general's office.
Wilder said he convened Tuesday's meeting because several university presidents had questions about "their enforcement powers," particularly over off-campus activities, such as those held by fraternities.
Wilder said his administration believes universities "already have sufficient regulation and authority over student conduct." What is needed, he said, is "stronger and more consistent enforcement."
After the UVa raid, several officials at the school said fraternities are self-regulating and independent. Casteen defended the university's "arms-length" system of student self-governance, but he said after Tuesday's meeting that perhaps more control needs to be exerted by the university.
by CNB