Sewanee is a strange section of Franklin County, TN. Strange in that it does not fit in with surrounding towns, such as Cowan and Estill Springs, which largely consist of Republican Southern Baptists, of whom only about 25% have completed a single year of college. Franklin County is well known by inhabitants of Sewanee for its high percentage of meth users, traffickers, and producers, and it is popularly referred to as "the #1 meth county in the United States." Although in 2009 there were only three arrests due to the manufacturing and selling of meth, the effects of the substance are everywhere. Everywhere, except for Sewanee. Not one of the students interviewed expressed concern over the reputation of Franklin County, or its proximity to Sewanee. How does this town get away from the influence of heavy narcotics? In the midst of an area where traditional beliefs have been waylaid by the allure of hard drugs, Sewanee flourishes with its clean streets, beautiful sandstone architecture, and history of compassion.

Ranked as the 17th largest party school in the nation-as well as 8th on the list of biggest Greek life programs-by the Princeton Review, the University of the South has a reputation. Walking into a party on campus, one floats and bumps in the swagger of the (often drunken) crowd while students down vodka and beer in red solo cups scattered across the house. Porches and decks are taken up by those smoking, crying, and making out-often whilst drinking. Parties run every weekend, and the general student consensus is that weekends start on Thursdays. It would seem an ideal town, what with all the frequently imbibed students, for drug traffickers.

In response to a recent survey of drug usage and availability on campus, on average, most students (63% of 93) admitted to using drugs at the university. Of that group, 98.4% say they've used marijuana, by far the most commonly used drug on campus. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "There's lots of people here up here who smoke every day ... sometimes up to 3 times a day." He went to talk about the tactics student use to avoid setting off fire alarms, such as blowing air through a Gatorade bottle filled with paper, so as to filter the smoke out. One student even mentioned rumors of professors who indulge in the occasional toke.

However, other than marijuana, no other drug on the Sewanee campus seems to be used by the majority of students. Only 35.5% say they've used cocaine, 32.3% say they've used psychedelic substances (LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, ecstasy, etc.), and 0% say they've used meth. "I know where [drugs are] gonna be" answered one student in response to a query as to the availability on campus, "In Sewanee you know where to go if you're looking for drugs." Of the students who frequently obtain drugs, 89% do so on campus, implying that there are very few people that actually venture off of campus seeking them. Indeed, drugs are, according to a Sewanee student, "moderately easy to find when you have the connections."

An interview with Chief White concerning the prevalence of drugs in the community revealed that there were only "several incidents a year involving [police] contact . . . Sewanee is no different than any other university. The most widely used drug is of course marijuana." Even though it is not a problem within Sewanee, police find evidence of production and consumption of meth outside of town quite frequently. "We found a lab two months ago under a bridge on Sherwood [road]." Hard substances like meth stay on the outskirts of town for the most part, only passing through on the way to more popular regions. "I have seen a lot of different drugs in Sewanee but I never encountered meth, even if I know that it is a big problem in this county," admits a Sewanee junior.

So what keeps Sewanee relatively safe from drug use? Given its proximity to narcotics in surrounding areas from Chattanooga to Nashville, it could easily become another haven for users, and yet it stays, for the most part, clean. The University stands like a fortress between drugs and the inhabitants of Sewanee. The compassion and responsibility of the students, professors, and locals keep substances like meth and cocaine at bay.

While other towns in Franklin County are wracked with drug usage, the faces of Sewanee stay unblemished of the highly addictive substances like meth and cocaine. No place will ever be free of drugs, but from the nature of the students, as well as town's people, it is safe to say, "Sewanee is a bubble."

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