Pubdate: Thu, 27 Mar 2008
Source: New Paltz Oracle (SUNY, NY Edu)
Copyright: 2008 New Paltz Oracle
Contact:  http://oracle.newpaltz.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3783
Author: Gina Marinelli, Copy Editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act)

SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION TO AMEND DRUG POLICY

For the first time in three years, the SUNY New Paltz administration 
has been listening more than ever to the student senate in regards to 
drug policy reform, said Student Association President Brian Gold.

The two parties which once held aggressive and antagonistic discourse 
now have been able to maintain a productive relationship which "has 
potential for a great deal of success," said Gold.

Most recently, the student senate has passed a resolution aimed 
towards changing the drug policy for students found in possession of 
marijuana. The legislation would remove expulsion as a possible 
punishment for second time marijuana offenders, establishing a new 
policy that includes removal from residence halls as a punishment and 
potentially creating a drug education program. Written by former Sen. 
Josh Goldberg, this piece of legislation focuses on a specific aspect 
of the entire drug policy. "Some think it's small," Goldberg said of 
the resolution. "I think it's a big step."

The passing of a piece of legislation is usually aimed toward 
encouraging a discussion between administration and students. This 
resolution, Vice President of Student Affairs and Governance Ben 
Olsen said, may be the most pragmatic and reasonable approach to drug 
policy reform that students have made in a while.

It remains unclear whether this legislation has the support of administrators.

"I don't see it as an invested interest of the institution," said 
Vice President of Enrollment David Eaton about changing the current 
drug policies on campus. "We would much rather struggle to be a 
drug-free school than a free-drug school."

One argument made in the resolution is that the drug policies at SUNY 
New Paltz are much stricter than the policies of other SUNY schools. 
However, the two strike policy currently found in the Student 
Handbook has been observed for about 10 years, prior to which New 
Paltz followed a stricter policy of expulsion after one charge of 
marijuana use or possession, said Eric Gullickson, director of media 
relations for SUNY New Paltz. "That policy was put in place during 
the Chandler administration to curb drug use on campus - at a time 
when SUNY New Paltz was considered one of the worst campuses for drug 
use, which resulted in a poor academic reputation and decreased 
enrollment," he said.

Ray Schwarz, the associate vice president of student affairs and the 
faculty advisor to the student senate, said that the senate's 
approach will likely lead to respectful and productive discussion on 
this complex issue, but that drug policy reform only reflects the 
interests of a sub group of the senate and there are many other 
senators who feel passionately about issues such as faculty office 
hours, academic advising, transportation and renovation of the 
Student Union Building.

This year, a number of SA executive board members have conducted 
focus groups to discover what it is that students want their 
government to advocate for, said Schwarz. "Those are the things I 
like to see," he said, calling the e-board a group of "ethical leaders."

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and 
Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, better known as NORML and SSDP, 
have also been an influential voice of drug policy reform on the New 
Paltz campus.  They share some of the same goals as stated in 
Goldberg's legislation, specifically to "create policy on campus that 
we feel is just and reflective of the non-violent crime of marijuana 
possession," said Stephen Morseman, a sophomore political science 
major and member of NORML/SSDP.

These organizations are also currently distributing surveys to 
collect student feedback on the current drug policies. "We plan on 
presenting this data to the administration at the end of the 
semester, and with the help of the student senate we hope to create 
real change," Morseman said, who added that one of SSDP's other goals 
is to remove the Aid Elimination Penalty from the Higher Education 
Act, preventing college students from automatically losing financial 
aid as a punishment for drug offenses.

Schwarz said that student activism, such as that of NORML/SSDP and 
members of the student senate, is an important part of all college 
campuses as long as it is constructive and beneficial to the majority 
of the student body.

The next major step for NORML/SSDP is their annual Rock Against 
Racism event held on Sunday, April 27. "In addition to creating 
change directly with the administration, we hope to raise student 
awareness," said Morseman. "We hope that through this event we can 
demonstrate that it is not only 'those lazy potheads' who oppose the 
current drug laws, but that the movement also includes police 
officers, high court officials, college professors and grass roots activists." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake