Controversial Email Sent By SU Official - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

SALISBURY, Md. - There is controversy over an e-mail sent to students at Salisbury University. It's causing quite a stir online and in the community over it's pop culture and drug references...and get this...it's coming from the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students, Edwin Cowell, says it was sent out to warn students about the dangers of drug and alcohol use, but it leaked out into the community, and not everyone is okay with it. Joanna Dubs, a concerned grandmother says "not very professional at all -- I would say here, I don't know who okay'd it to go out -- but it really needed a little bit more investigation before he sent it out."

People are fired up over the casual language of this e-mail sent to students by Salisbury University Dean of Students. It opens by saying "Wakey , Wakey, Bakey everyone (sorry, typo, wakey, wakey, wakey!)" It went out to the entire student population on April 20th, a date notoriously known as a marijuana smoking holiday. It used rap lyrics and references to popular youtube videos.

A student says "I think he was just talking to the students personally -- so we understood what he was trying to tell us." But some people we spoke to felt it went too far. One part of the e-mail referenced the Antoine Dobson interview a video which went viral on youtube saying "Hide yo' kids...hide yo' wife." But the e-mail said "hide ya drink...hide ya weed. - and stay focused on your educational and career needs." Which some non-students interpreted as condoning the use of drugs and alcohol.

Cowell said "the idea is not to necessarily condone the use of marijuana but to draw their attention to it."... "it's not intended that way at all -- it's not to suggest "hide your weed" in that literal sense."... "I take full responsibility for it."

Cowell tells WMDT he worked with students to make sure the references made sense to "the students" and the statements are being misinterpreted. And he went further to say Salisbury University has a zero tolerance for drug use and anyone caught doing drugs will face suspension and dismissal. The full interview with Cowell can be seen above.

The full e-mail is below, where you can take a look at it and decide for yourself if it's inappropriate or just misunderstood. Please head to our WMDT facebook page and let us know what you think.

"Sent: Friday, April 20, 2012 10:50 AM
Subject: Message from the Dean of Students

Wakey, wakey, bakey everyone (sorry, typo, wakey, wakey, wakey!)…

It's that time of the year when I find it necessary to remind you of your responsibility as members of the SU community.

Seriously, this is not a smoke screen. 

With a smorgasbord of activity (War on the Shore, Pork in the Park, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, etc., etc.) taking place over the next few weeks, it is very important that you conduct yourselves with a sense of responsibility and respect for the University, the community, to yourself, and to each other.

So what you get drunk… (Really!?!)

So what you smoke weed… (Oh, hell no!?!)

You're just having fun, (you should care who sees)

Even when you're living young and wild and free…

That's not how it has to be.

So, "hide ya drink,"

      "hide ya weed"

and stay focused on your educational and career needs.

If you screw up at this point, I can only offer you thoughts from one or two noble philosophers; Antoine Dodson lends these words, "You are so dumb, you are really dumb…for real!" And as the beautiful Sweet Brown once said, "Ain't nobody got time for that!"

Finally,

I offer my sincerest congrats to each and every senior on your significant accomplishment and wish you the best as you conclude your collegiate experience, and with your job pursuit.

To all,

stay safe and please take care of yourselves and each other as we close out the year. "