Pubdate: Mon, 12 Apr 2004
Source: Lumberjack, The (CA Edu)
Copyright: The Lumberjack Newspaper, Humboldt State Univesity, 2004
Contact:  http://www.thejack.org/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2736
Author: C.L. Brady

LGA SAYS RESPECT MY BREATHING AIR, DON'T POLLUTE IT WITH POT

Dear Editor,

After reading the article by Cat Sieh regarding marijuana policies on 
campus in the March 10th issue, I had to write in. I've been a Living Group 
Advisor in the residence halls for almost two years. I have confronted my 
share of incidents involving students smoking marijuana in the halls.

I want you, lumberjack readers, and residents to know why it is important 
for LGAs to enforce the marijuana policies in the halls.

First of all, marijuana smoke has an extremely pungent odor. I know many 
people who have mild to severe reactions to the transient smoke, including 
migraines, asthma attacks, and insomnia. Not only that, but it is really 
hard to study when you're getting a contact high.

Residents are not allowed to smoke cigarettes in their rooms because of 
health hazards to the people who live around them; it's the same thing for 
marijuana.

It is unfair to ask the numerous residents who don't smoke to be subject to 
these hazards. That would be violating their rights. Secondly, all students 
who live in housing must sign a contract that states they will follow the 
community guidelines.

The community guidelines state that residents cannot burn or smoke anything 
in doors. My job is not to enforce state and federal law, but those guidelines.

If people cannot follow the contract they agreed to, there are plenty of 
housing opportunities off campus. Honestly, as a person, community member 
and LGA, I don't care if people choose to smoke marijuana off campus. It's 
their business and I'm not their mom.

However, smoking on campus, particularly in their room is disruptive to the 
community. I propose a simple solution for those who choose to smoke 
marijuana in the residence halls: GO OFF CAMPUS!

Just walk the 50 to 100 yards it takes to go past the campus boundaries so 
other people are not bothered by the smoke.

Then I won't have to deal with it and other residents won't have their 
rights to a peaceful healthy community violated.

Sincerely, C.L. Brady, Senior Living Group Adivisor
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom