In the February 7 issue of The Shield, my fellow staff members reported “USI guest director arrested for cocaine, marijuana possession” about Gerald McIntyre.

The guest director received three grams of THC and two grams of cocaine via mail and was apprehended in his on campus apartment. The drugs were mailed to USI Housing.

What the university didn’t know was he had a criminal background in New York.

How could the university not have known? Honestly, that makes me question certain policies we have in place.

I’m not worried about current faculty members, professors and administrators – people who are adding to the growing diversity and amazingness of this campus. However, I am worried about the people we hire as “guests” to this campus – especially someone who lives on campus!

I wasn’t aware that guest faculty could live on campus, and I’m certainly glad that I don’t live on campus. I’m sure if parents knew about this issue, it would be a great concern. I know my mother would be worried.

I think that whenever someone is hired out of nowhere, they should be thoroughly background-checked and should at least have an entrance drug test.

 If you can’t pass a one-time drug test, you don’t deserve to work at the university level. I don’t think that’s too harsh.

Also, regarding Mr. McIntyre, how dare he come to our campus and make a fool of himself and us!

While reading over the reports, I saw that his quotes are really ridiculous.

McIntyre said he didn’t know that his friend was going to send cocaine.

Really? I don’t believe that, especially because he asked his friend to send him a joint in the mail. How stupid could you be? Mailing drugs. Since when did that become a thing?

McIntyre also said he would have used the cocaine and would have thanked his friend for the surprise.

What an ass.

That is the kind of person USI hired to help direct “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992.” In my opinion, he embarrassed the entire university and the Theatre department. I saw the play, and it was amazing. I can’t believe someone would want to embarrass them like that.

The Theatre department obviously didn’t need McIntyre because the play was great without him. I just think we should be more careful next time someone on the outside wants to join our community.

There’s nothing wrong with a little background check.