editorial comment As for the future of these kids.....

Sixteen students were arrested Monday morning in a drug round up at Morehead State University.

Five additional arrests were anticipated, said Dan Smoot, law enforcement director for the eastern Kentucky anti-drug task force Operation UNITE.

"A college should be a safe haven for students to prepare for the future," Smoot said. "A place to grow and learn and expand their minds, not destroy their future with illegal drugs."

Madonna Weathers, the university's vice president for student life, said Morehead State asked the task force for help in getting rid of drugs on the northeastern Kentucky campus.

"Our problem is no more than any other campus," Weathers said. "But because of concerns that students have brought to our attention, we thought the best way to combat that was to go where the resources were. UNITE has those resources."

Smoot said undercover narcotics officers worked on the case for about two months, allegedly purchasing marijuana and prescription drugs from the students who were arrested. The students were rounded up in dormitories, fraternity houses and off-campus apartments, he said.

Smoot said drug dealers shouldn't have access to university campuses.

"You expect your kids to come home with a degree, not an addiction," he said. "We sent a powerful message this morning."

Smoot said UNITE is "proud" to help get the dealers off of Morehead State's campus.

"Those dealing drugs are doing nothing more than trying to enslave this region's future by trapping our brightest stars in the downward spiral of addiction," he said.

Weathers said she hopes the arrests will improve the educational environment on campus.

"The actions of a few can have a great impact on others, and we hope that by working with Operation UNITE those who are dealing drugs will know that they are not welcome here," she said.

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