Sir Antony Seldon aims to make Buckingham University the UK?s first drug-free campus through a positive-psychology approach
When I was Head of Brighton, and later Wellington College, I made a strong stand against drug-taking. So when I became a vice-chancellor of Buckingham University three years ago, one of the first questions I asked was: “Why can?t we make our campus drug-free"”
I was told by colleagues at other universities that I didn?t understand; drugs, like heavy-drinking sessions, were a rite of passage at university.
Over the years, I?ve fought many battles. I once received a death threat from a pupil I expelled for drug-pushing, and when I introduced wellbeing lessons to the curriculum a decade ago, I was mocked; now they?re commonplace. But I had no desire to face down undermining comments I?d attract by tackling the campus drugs issue. Instead I focused on improving student mental health and the quality of university teaching.
My concerns wouldn?t go away, however, and stories of drug-induced death, injury and psychological damage among students continue to haunt me.
In despair, I wavered between one of two policy extremes: following the practice of some boarding schools and expelling drug users, or managing the problem the best we could, by offering advice to students on how to take drugs safely. I didn?t favour either.
Where was the compassion for vulnerable young students living away from home for the first time, in letting the status quo b...