October 31, 2007
Your reefer rights
Last Tuesday ASUM, the ACLU, and others put on a “know your rights” event. As evidenced by the row after row of empty seats, most students had a better use for their time, and rightfully so. It was a valid effort and I believe the intent was merely to inform students on a wide range of issues that they might be interested in learning about. But, between the “nonpartisan” ASUM student political action director’s ranting that conservatives did all in their power to stop Native Americans for voting in the last election and the decision of many conservative friends to simply chat outside, I knew what lay ahead inside the UC Theater would surely register a few laughs and scoffs.
My assumptions proved correct! However, the laughs were reminiscent of the type generated by an elderly or handicapped person slipping on a sheet of ice. It’s only funny until you realize the severity and impact of such actions and that you were sick and mistaken to chuckle in the first place. Maybe I missed something but it seemed as if lighting it up was a prerequisite to attending. Drugs are illegal and it’s a crime to have them. Right? Kinda, but now I and dozens of others know the best way to keep them from detection. Thanks to the panel for that information. The Board of Regents should probably establish a drug course because it’s such a priority. Of course, we don’t discriminate here. Why should sex and rock ‘n’ roll receive all the state money and full classrooms?
Between pointless ballot initiatives that waste thousands of dollars, letters to the editor, flashy UC tables, and ruining a “know your rights” event; the pot-smoking block on this campus holds entirely too much influence. Go ahead and continue to smoke some reefer in the basements of grungy house “parties”, but please refrain from making this drug and others a controversial, even important issue at this institution of higher learning. Please take up personal beefs with the FDA. I’m sure they would love to hear how your rights have been violated lately.
Unless you occasionally light up, the “know your rights” event was an almost complete waste of time (see: free speech zones). Officer Lemcke had to feel like an evangelical at a daily Kos convention. Both the panel and students made the police force out to be a wolf in the sheep’s pen from the outset. One student had the nerve to ask whether officers should be required to obtain college degrees. After attending this exhibition, I understand why any such American hero/protector would not want to be educated in such a way.
Think asking whether Miranda Rights were necessary and appropriate would have been a fair question? So do I, but somehow I don’t think I’d have made it out of there.
Dan Stusek
Junior, Political Science
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