Spring Break
New MSU drug, alcohol policy sparks concerns
Erin Kourkounis
Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: News
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The MSU Faculty Senate will discuss the conditions of a faculty and staff drug and alcohol policy, which went into effect on May 5, at the Senate's first meeting of the semester on Sept. 14. The policy was approved by the university's Executive Council on Jan. 19.
The Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Policy says, "University employees expect to work in a drug free environment. The university expects its employees to be free from the effects of alcohol and drugs while on the job or in the workplace."
Senate President Robert Wolverton said the Senate has several questions pertaining to the policy in need of answering.
"It isn't that the faculty are opposed to it. They just want to hear more specific details," he said.
Associate professor of communication and Faculty Senate member Mark Goodman said the basic problem with the policy is that it is poorly written.
"There's nothing wrong with having a policy, it's just loosely worded," he said.
The policy is not clear as to whom it applies to, Goodman said.
"It clearly applies to employees covered by federal law including MSU bus drivers, campus police and certain people on campus working on specific defense grants," he said.
The language of the current policy says anyone suspected of having a drug or alcohol problem can be tested, but it is unclear as to whether random drug testing is included, Goodman said.
"There's nothing in the policy preventing random drug testing from happening," he said. "Multiple interpretations are possible."
An MSU human resources representative said faculty or staff can be randomly drug tested if they fit into one of the categories in the neutral selection section of the policy.
According to the policy, neutral selection includes any faculty member who is engaged in law enforcement, has national or state security responsibilities or has drug interdiciton responsibilities.
Neutral selection also includes anyone who holds a position in which he or she has the authority to carry firearms, has access to engage in law enforcement, is required, as a condition of employment, to obtain a security clearance or is engaged in activities affecting public health or safety, the policy says.
The Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Policy says, "University employees expect to work in a drug free environment. The university expects its employees to be free from the effects of alcohol and drugs while on the job or in the workplace."
Senate President Robert Wolverton said the Senate has several questions pertaining to the policy in need of answering.
"It isn't that the faculty are opposed to it. They just want to hear more specific details," he said.
Associate professor of communication and Faculty Senate member Mark Goodman said the basic problem with the policy is that it is poorly written.
"There's nothing wrong with having a policy, it's just loosely worded," he said.
The policy is not clear as to whom it applies to, Goodman said.
"It clearly applies to employees covered by federal law including MSU bus drivers, campus police and certain people on campus working on specific defense grants," he said.
The language of the current policy says anyone suspected of having a drug or alcohol problem can be tested, but it is unclear as to whether random drug testing is included, Goodman said.
"There's nothing in the policy preventing random drug testing from happening," he said. "Multiple interpretations are possible."
An MSU human resources representative said faculty or staff can be randomly drug tested if they fit into one of the categories in the neutral selection section of the policy.
According to the policy, neutral selection includes any faculty member who is engaged in law enforcement, has national or state security responsibilities or has drug interdiciton responsibilities.
Neutral selection also includes anyone who holds a position in which he or she has the authority to carry firearms, has access to engage in law enforcement, is required, as a condition of employment, to obtain a security clearance or is engaged in activities affecting public health or safety, the policy says.
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freshmao
Mark O'Neil
posted 8/28/07 @ 8:09 PM EST
In our law driven society, clear policies on basic ethical issues such as drug and alcohol use in the work place and/or while on the job are now the reality. (Continued…)
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