Pubdate: Wed, 22 Apr 2009
Source: Red and Black, The (U of Georgia, GA Edu)
Copyright: 2009 The Red and Black Publishing Co., Inc.
Contact:  http://www.redandblack.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2800
Author: Chelsea Cook
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)
Cited: GA NORML at UGA  www.uga.edu/norml

RIGHT TO FAIR TRIAL?

University Judiciary's Verdict In NORML Trial Was Subjective, Unfair.

What a long, strange trip it's been.

University Judiciary announced Tuesday night the University chapter 
of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws will 
not only be sanctioned for trademark infringement and failure to 
comply, but will be placed on University probation for two years.

We believe that NORML's case - three months of defending its logo as 
political satire - was not handled objectively.

After being charged, NORML had to choose between signing a statement 
of wrongdoing and one year's probation, or proceeding to a formal 
hearing. Here the University Judiciary listened to NORML's defense, 
but nearly doubled its sanction.

The editorial board believes that NORML essentially was punished for 
standing up for itself. Although NORML may not stand for what 
everyone believes should be legal, it deserves to be treated as any 
student advocacy group would. Had NORML been advocating a legal 
substance, and drawn a bulldog in that light, as many student groups 
and off-campus businesses often do, it would not have been subject to 
the same grievances.

NORML is encouraging every student who believes in its cause, or 
simply its right to justice, to wear green this Thursday. It may not 
change the outcome of the case, but this simple action will let 
University Judiciary know that NORML's case should not be a precedent 
for future hearings. We all deserve the right to a fair trial, even 
those of us with radical ideas.

- - Chelsea Cook for the editorial board 
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom