A student living in Navajo Residence Hall was arrested by UAPD last week for having multiple illegal drugs in his dorm with the intention of selling them.

Police found 3 ounces of marijuana, 221 prescription pills, 1.2 ounces of cocaine and various drug paraphernalia in Patrick Jameson Madden's room.

In addition to criminal charges, Madden, a pre-business freshman, also faces the possibility of being evicted from the residence hall.

Last semester, 32 students were evicted from campus residence halls because they had violated the Residence Life drug policy.

Jim Van Arsdel, director of Residence Life, said most of these students were evicted because of drug violations, adding that the number of students evicted last semester was roughly the same as in other years.

According to Residence Life's community standards, if a student is caught possessing or using illegal drugs, the punishment is eviction.

Tyler Schubert, a media arts freshman and a resident of the Arizona-Sonora Residence Hall, said his friend was kicked out of the dorm for having marijuana in his room.

We are very careful about the rights of individual students. ÷ Jim Van Arsdel director of Residence Life

Schubert said his friend was treated unfairly.

"It seems like resident assistants are out to get you," he said. "They change around stories to make it seem like they're right."

But Carol Thompson, a senior associate Dean of Students, said students are given a fair chance to defend themselves before they are evicted.

"A student has a due process when there are allegations and the possibility of them being kicked out," she said.

Thompson also said the policy is very specific in outlining what violations could result in a student's eviction from a dorm, including drug violations, having weapons, assault charges and multiple alcohol-related charges.

Thompson said the process begins with an investigation in which a student can present facts.

Students are usually allowed to remain in their dorm until this decision is made.

Van Arsdel said when a student is found in violation of the contract, they are treated as fairly as possible and are not usually kicked out immediately.

"We are very careful about the rights of individual students," he said. "When a student is evicted it is because they chose to engage in behavior they knew would get them evicted."

Thompson said if a student is kicked out, they can appeal the decision if they feel it is unfair.

Once a student has been evicted they are not allowed back into the residence hall.

Van Arsdel said there are very few situations in which a student is immediately asked to leave the dorm and not come back.

Van Arsdel said Residence Life will help a student who has been evicted to find a new place to live by referring them to the student housing office in the Student Union Memorial Center.

Schubert said students should be given a second chance before being kicked out.

Minor offenses, such as having drug paraphernalia, will result in a $25 fine and enrollment in a drug education class. But upon a second offense, the student can be evicted.

Jeseka Bowden, undeclared sophomore and a resident of the Arizona-Sonora Residence Hall, said her friend was kicked out of the dorms, for fighting.

Bowden also felt her friend was treated unfairly.

"If I had been in his situation, I would want another chance," she said.

But Bowden said in the case of a student having drugs or weapons in the dorms, it would make her feel safer to see that student kicked out.

Sgt. Eugene Mejia, UAPD spokesman, said the Residence Life contract works very well because it allows students to be made aware of the rules and consequences of violations. Mejia said when police are involved in an arrest in the dorms, the decision of whether the student will be evicted is up to Residence Life.

"Our function is to keep the peace, to document and to investigate," he said. "After that our involvement stops, and Residence Life takes on the role of enforcing school regulations."