"It is becoming less of an issue," said Carson.  "Students are becoming better educated towards the hazards of alcohol and drugs."
     In addition he said, fines have been imposed to discourage the presence of drugs and excessive alcohol consumption. Marijuana is the main drug when it comes to possession. A minimum $500 fine for a first drug possession offence has been imposed, and on a second offence, especially when offensive or "extreme behavior" is involved, a resident will be evicted.
     "There has been police involvement when a larger amount of drugs was found in a student's dorm." Carson said.
     There have been two evictions this year said security supervisor Alex Nicol. Evidence of drug trafficking would constitute immediate removal from the residence.
     The "dry" buildings have also been introduced as a countermeasure to underage drinking. These buildings house most of the underage students, and other students who wish to be there. However smuggling of alcohol into these buildings continues to happen.
     "We've come upon it", said Carson, explaining staff has not caught anyone in the act.
     In cases where underage students have been caught with alcohol, it's simply poured out says Nicol, along with issuing the offender a $50 fine.
     Ironically, some first year students, who talked to the pioneer on the condition that their names not appear in the article, said more drinking happens in the dry buildings than anywhere else and when they do get caught, they just pay the fine, and keep drinking.
     The students do not seem to be very concerned with the consequences of underage drinking. "I'd say when we have a party, at least half the people there are underage. Our RA has even joined us in drinking, with drunk under aged students there," said a first year student of legal age.
     "I got fines for everything" says a second year student who has left res after his first year. " I got fined for drinking, for having empty cases of beer in my room, for having a pet ferret, and for propping the door open."
     Another first year student said he is concerned about the actions of security and the residence assistants. He said there have been seemingly unwarranted searches by both RAs and security. Based solely on suspicion, he says, searches of dorms have been conducted.
     "The searched my roommates room" says a second year TV student. "They unlocked his room while he was gone for the weekend and searched his room, they didn't even say why."
     Coming straight out of high school, students like 19-year-old second year David Foot, want to experience the "res life," but for Foot, convenience soon became the main selling feature.
     "This is my second year on res.  Last year, as a new college student, I wanted to experience the res life. This year, after living here last year, I just thought it would be easier based an the crazy hours of my program, it's just more convenient."
     On issues concerning drugs and alcoholism in dorms, Foot says, "I think that's all in the attitude of the student. If they see res as a place to party then they will, if they see it as a place to study and just live, then that's how they'll see it."