The now infamous university drug-related arrests have knit the faculty, staff and students tighter as a community, but they have also incited many students like me to question the effectiveness of on-campus policies and regulations previously in place.

Despite some claims that the university is not so typically “open,” I am proud of the university’s transparency in reporting the drug-related arrests and facing the ensuing media onslaught. Both supporters and opponents of the university’s methods agree the university acted in a forthcoming manner.

As with any similar situation, every action taken by the university, its police and the Fort Worth police are now subject to scrutiny. From the release of police reports to the publication of photos, many question the ethics of the publicity surrounding the students involved.

While such questions are fair, the answer remains the same — they are adults and adult consequences accompany adult actions.

Furthermore, the university has not permanently expelled the students — at least not yet. Their collegiate futures remain undetermined while they wait for their court dates and other legal actions.

If some or all of these students are not convicted, then the students will have the chance to continue at the university.

While the legal process continues, many members of the university community are beginning to wonder how this “drug bust” happened. But more importantly, those who have a stake in the university’s reputation want to know how to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.

In a 2010 survey, 37 percent of university students admitted to using an illicit drug in the past year, falling below the national average. Kathy Vetter, the Star-Telegram editor who supervised the initial coverage of the university announcement, reported, “Compared with the national average, TCU students were more likely to say their college cares about preventing drug abuse, and that campus drug and alcohol policies are enforced.”

This sentiment should provide the necessary foundation on which to further modify and improve existing disciplinary procedures. Students are aware of the university’s intolerance of drug use, and they clearly show their support for university action against such practices.

The university currently has a Drug Abuse Policy in place, which has led to a reported 174 discipline referrals. However, the campus police’s policy also states, “In addition to sanctions imposed by the University for violation of the Drug Abuse Policy, a student may be subject to regulations of civil authorities.”

According to the Department of Education, only four drug arrests have been made at the university since 2006, while 174 drug disciplines have occurred. Unlike arrests, campus-based discipline is outside of the legal system. While this approach offers on-campus drug offenders a second chance, perhaps this lack of serious punishment does not sufficiently discourage drug use on campus.

At other private Texas universities of comparable size, drug arrests far outweigh drug disciplines, but this pattern is reversed at TCU. The Department of Education also reported that at Baylor University, authorities have made 95 arrests since 2006, while 51 disciplines have occurred.

At Southern Methodist University, 127 students have been arrested, and 122 have received campus disciplinary action. The same trend continues at Rice, Texas Woman’s University and other similar institutions.

The university’s dedication to helping its students overcome such problems is certainly admirable in a university setting. Student Affairs’ commitment to the welfare and overall growth of its students is one of many reasons university students love and respect their school.

However, such a radically different trend from the norm should command attention and consideration by administrators – if for no other reason than to verify such seemingly commendable performance. Policies toward drug violations must change.

As such difficult circumstances often do, the recent drug bust at the university has strengthened the Horned Frog community and reminded all of its members of their responsibility to one another. Rather than focusing on the negative results of these events, Student Affairs should take this opportunity to learn and improve its current standards and policies.

Following this manner, the university as a whole will go forward as a more united, more refined and more tenacious beacon of education.

Rebecca Allen is a senior English and strategic communication double major from New Braunfels.