Pubdate: Tue, 22 Feb 2005
Source: Emory Wheel, The (Emory U, GA Edu)
Copyright: 2005 The Emory Wheel
Contact:  http://www.emorywheel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2781
Author: Chris Megerian, Executive Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

DRUG DEBATE PITS ENFORCER AGAINST EDITOR

Smoking marijuana may be a common point of conversation in residence
halls, but the topic rarely makes its way onto the stage of a church.

Tonight it will, when two prominent national figures on both sides of
the war on drugs stage a debate at 7 p.m. in Glenn Memorial Auditorium
as part of the Great Debate, an event that organizers hope will become
an annual occurrence.

College Council Vice President Feras Akbik booked Steve Hager, the
editor in chief of High Times Magazine, and Rober Stutman, one of the
most successful officers in the Drug Enforcement Agency, as speakers
in the event. Akbik said part of his goal is to grab people's attention.

"We were looking for a topic that integrates a lot of different
disciplines and is something that is pertinent to the student body,"
he said.

Akbik said the war on drugs touches on a wide range of issues,
including medical practices, law enforcement, racial profiling and
socially acceptable behavior.

"This is a topic that we need to start talking about in the open,
instead of having it be a taboo subject," he said.

Because of the debate's topic, Akbik said, one campus organization
that was asked for funding declined. But, he said, most students and
administrators have been supportive.

College freshman Kunal Vani said he occasionally reads the High Times
and supports the legalization of marijuana. However, he is most
interested in hearing Stutman speak at the debate.

"I want to see what the cons of marijuana are," Vani
said.

College freshman Ben Zalusky said he was looking forward to hearing
both sides of the argument.

"Even though there's not much media coverage on it, it's an important
issue for where this country is headed," he said.

Akbik got the idea from his brother, College freshman Faysal Akbik,
and then discussed it with his high school debate coach and looked
online for ideas for guests.

According to Akbik, Hager thinks legalizing marijuana is a key
component of equal rights.

"This is his big topic, and he's devoted his life to it," Akbik
said.

Hager's counterweight in the debate will be Stutman, a former DEA
agent with more than $400 million in drug seizures.

Stutman has turned down three invitations to serve as the nation's
drug czar, instead choosing to start a substance abuse prevention company.

Hager and Stutman often stage debates together, such as one at James
Madison University (Va.) in October 2002, which drew about 1,300 people.

The Great Debate, organized by College Council, will feature an
introduction by moderator Jack Zupko, director of undergraduate
studies in the philosophy department, a 10-minute speech from each
speaker and an hour for audience questions. The Great Debate was
originally scheduled for last semester and was to have featured a
debate between the two Georgian candidates for U.S. senator,
then-Congressmen Johnny Isaakson and Denise Majette.

However, about a week before the event, Isaakson cancelled, and the
scheduled debate fell apart.

The debate is co-sponsored by 16 campus organizations and costs about
$13,000. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake