On October 18th, police entered the dorm room of Quinnipiac sophomore Christopher Thompson and arrested him on charges of possession of marijuana, intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to The Quinnipiac Chronicle of Connecticut. 

Sophomore David Bowen, one of Thompson’s roommates, was also arrested for breach of peace.

The Quad News, Quinnipiac University’s independent campus news source, interviewed one of the dorm room’s other occupants, sophomore Nick Fouche.

According to Fouche, “Security said there was a heavy marijuana smell and asked if they could look around” after knocking on their door around 2 a.m. according to student witnesses. Fouche said he denied security permission to his room because there were alcohol bottles in view and his roommates are under 21.

Fouche continued detailing his story, saying that security responded to his denying their entrance with “too bad,” entering anyway. From there, the situation escalated. Bowen and the room’s fourth occupant, Greg Valerio did not wake when addressed by security, prompting the officers to shake them.

According to his roommates, a still groggy Bowen put one of the guards in a headlock, leading to his arrest.

Valerio was seen being pulled to the floor, which caused him to report a headache and a nauseous feeling. That led to his being taken to a hospital at 5 a.m… He is currently resting at home and was last reported by The Quad News as “awaiting the results of tests to determine the severity of his injuries.”

Chief of Security and Safety John Twining told the Chronicle that one of his officers was “struck” during the incident, but that “he’s okay now.”

After police found a bong and 21 grams of marijuana, Thompson was held on $1,500 bail and later released while Bowen was released on $500 bond. Thompson and Bowen have both been suspended by Quinnipiac University until conduct hearings are held. According to The Quinnipiac Chronicle, they are expected to appear in court October 30th.

Our Take:

This whole event is just poorly handled on both sides, as with most of these incidents. I can’t help but lay a mini-FAIL to both parties.

Fouche should have been more aware of University rules. Students don’t own the dorm room, it belongs to the school. Since it isn’t private property, I have a hard time thinking he can simply “not allow” school security to enter the room. I mean, even RA’s have the right to enter your room with the proper reasoning!  And the 21 grams of marijuana thing doesn’t help your case either.

On the other side of the law, security could have been less aggressive. If I was shaken from my bed, I don’t know what I’d do in my partially-slumbering stupor. Certainly the student that was pulled to the floor could have been treated far differently and respectfully, avoiding injuries and possible hospital bills.

What do you think? Who deserves a FAIL here?