Know a student at Linn State? The school is violating students' 4th amendment rights by drug testing

[PeaceNikki]

ALL new students. The ACLU is going to challenge this, so please send potential plaintiffs their way.

http://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/pass-drug-test-you-can-pass-class

Pass a Drug Test Before You Can Pass a Class

This week, a college in Missouri broke the law and violated the Fourth Amendment rights of its students. Linn State Technical College became the first public institution of higher learning to implement mandatory drug testing of all new students, as well as those returning from extended leaves of absence.

What a way to welcome back the student body.

Keep in mind that we are talking about college students who have done nothing to arouse suspicion of drug use. In fact, the only thing they are guilty of is enrolling at Linn State. The ironic part is that the school has stated that they don’t believe they have a higher rate of drug use than students at any other college.

No program like this has ever been enacted before in this country. Indeed, courts have only allowed school administrators to drug test students under limited circumstances, all of which have applied to public high school students—not adults attending a public college. And even at the high school level, testing has been restricted to those participating in sports or other extracurricular activities.

[CrispyQ]

1. Does the Chancellor's wife own the lab where the testing will be done?

:eyes:

more...

To add insult to injury, students have to pay for the cost of being drug tested! All new students are being fined an extra $50 to cover the cost of the drug test, for which they will not be reimbursed if the test comes back negative. And if a student tests positive, the college will charge them another $35 for an online drug education program. And if a student is forced to leave because of a drug test and it is past the refund date, their tuition will not be reimbursed. Hmmm, isn’t that interesting?

[DirkGently]

5. Yep. It's a racket, plain & simple.

[bluestateguy]

2. The best way for them to protest this

Is to not enroll there. Faced with a massive drop in enrollment and loss of revenue, the administrators will get the message.

I'm fairly sure there are other public schools in the area where the students can take the courses they need.

[FarCenter]

3. How is this different from having to pass a drug test to get a job after graduation?

[Duer 157099]

4. I'm against all drug testing, but to answer your question:

in one case they pay you, in the other case, you pay them.

[The Midway Rebel]

6. Its not, Both instances are violations of your Constitutional rights. nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. I believe that the courts have ruled to the contrary

Not that I like it, but I believe it is legal, at least for employment

[The Midway Rebel]

10. You are correct of course. They can search you, your locker and your car too.

Coercion is perfectly legal in this case. The courts once upheld human bondage as well. However, I still view it as a violation of my rights and I refuse to surrender those rights for the purpose of employment. I will continue to suggest we all do the same. Just say no.

[dkofos]

7. It's up to the students to say "Hell no I won't go" to that school.

[PeaceNikki]

9. I'm glad the ACLU believes otherwise and is filing suit. "The free market will regulate it" is

getting old.