Bust

Eleven undergraduates were arrested in the early morning hours of May 1 in the first large-scale "drug bust" to occur at the College. The arrests, carried out by approximately 25 state, county, and Hanover police officers in four different dormitories, were the culmination of a five-month investigation by a state police drug investigation unit, aided by local police. The arrests were based on alleged drug sales to undercover agents.

Nine of the students were subsequently indicted by the Grafton County Grand Jury on felony charges of either selling or conspiring to sell marijuana. The cases of two others, arrested for "knowingly being in the presence of a controlled drug," a misdemeanor, have been continued indefinitely definitely in Hanover District Court.

No trial dates have been set for the nine - three seniors, four sophomores, and twp freshmen - indicted on the more serious charges. Conviction on this class of felony charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $2,000, and five years' probation. Students at other New Hampshire Colleges, arrested in similar raids earlier in the year, have usually received sentences of one year, suspended all or in part, plus a fine well below the maximum, and a probationary period.

College officials have stated that no disciplinary action would be taken against the students pending resolution of their trials.