2/3/97 Contact: Ted Jones, 614/593-1911

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University Campus Safety officers searched two residence hall rooms over the weekend, confiscating what appears to be marijuana and LSD, according to Campus Safety Director Theodore Jones.

Information obtained during an interview with a student resulted in a search warrant being issued Friday. Officers searched a Bush Hall room where they confiscated what is believed to be marijuana and LSD, Jones said.

In a separate incident early Sunday morning, police officers searched a Sargent Hall room, confiscating what is believed to be marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, after a Residence Life staff member reported possible drug activity.

The substances are being tested by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

"When you have almost 20,000 people together on a college campus, some of those people are going to be involved in illegal activity," Jones said. "Our actions are a clear indication that we do not tolerate this kind of activity at Ohio University."

Information obtained in the Sargent Hall search prompted officers to contact the Southeast Counties of Ohio Narcotics Task Force (SECO) and Athens City police.

"Our officers continued the investigation to determine sources of these drugs," Jones said. "As a result, we worked with SECO and Athens police to continue the investigation off campus."

Students involved in the campus searches were processed by campus officers and released. Information obtained during the searches will be presented to the Athens County Grand Jury, Jones said.

"I'm pleased that our police staff was on top of it," said Dean of Students Joel Rudy. "It's disappointing and frustrating, but in this day and age not entirely surprising."

Reports from the three law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation will be reviewed by University Judiciaries, Rudy said.