Pubdate: 15 Apr 2001
Source: Daily Illini, The (IL Edu)
Copyright: 2001 Illini Media Co
Contact:  http://www.dailyillini.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1292
Author: Adam Jadhav

TWO ARRESTED ON HASH WEDNESDAY

Two students were arrested outside the south doors of the Illini Union for 
marijuana possession on Wednesday, as people gathered on the Quad for Hash 
Wednesday, a long-standing annual protest of laws that prohibit marijuana 
possession and use.

Michael Andrade, a sophomore in LAS, was arrested for having more than 2 
1/2 grams of marijuana. Stephen Wika, also a sophomore in LAS, was arrested 
for having less than 2 1/2 grams.

The students were found by University police with marijuana in plain view, 
said Sgt. Anthony Brown. Both were released later in the day. Several 
others had their possessions searched in connection with the incident.

"They searched four bags, but only one guy was seen messing with herb," 
said John Wendt, a junior in ACES who witnessed the arrest. "It was kind of 
bogus, but they did have it out."

Supporters of Hash Wednesday said that the arrestees reflect badly on the 
event, which is meant to be a civil protest.

"It's going to get read wrong," said Al Tobiaski, senior in LAS. "These 
people had nothing to do with what the organizers of Hash Wednesday had in 
mind."

The event, which falls on the third Wednesday in April, has been around 
since the late 1970s. Ryo Yamaguchi, sophomore in LAS, said that while 
attendance has dwindled in recent years, the cause is still the same. He 
said that people come out to the Quad to protest the prohibition of 
marijuana use.

"I think a lot of people in America are OK with marijuana," Yamaguchi said. 
"It's a ridiculous law."

Hash Wednesday began as both a celebration and a protest, said Bruce 
Bethell, a graduate teaching assistant. Bethell was an undergraduate 
student in 1978 when the first Hash Wednesday was held on campus.

"We just put signs up and people showed," he said, standing next to a pair 
of bongo drums. "People just came and were hanging out. There were hundreds."

Bethell said that in later years, students published a letter in The Daily 
Illini explaining that Hash Wednesday was not about just smoking pot. It 
was a campus-wide protest of laws, he said.

During Bethell's time as an undergraduate student, the event was more 
widely supported. While only dozens showed up this year, he said that in 
the past, students would set up tents and party while protesting, leaving 
little room to sit.

"When it happened, there were enough people that they couldn't do anything 
about it," Bethell said. "The civil disobedience was on a large enough scale."

Bethell described this year's showing as "pathetic." He said that today's 
laws makes many students to afraid to show up.

"Did you know that you can get a life sentence for marijuana?" Bethell 
asked. "That's why so few people are here."

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws also had 
representatives on the Quad. Emily Sunderman, senior in LAS, stood passing 
out flyers and collecting signatures for petitions. Sunderman said the two 
petitions are for the legalization of medical marijuana and industrial hemp.

"Marijuana awareness -- that's what today is all about," Sunderman said.

She stood amid signs reading "Happy Hash Wednesday" and "Serve No Time for 
Victimless Crime." Sunderman said that she was also pushing for at least 
decriminalization, if not legalization, of marijuana as a secondary goal.

Bethell said another reason why Hash Wednesday was bigger in the past was 
that marijuana carried a more lenient fine. Getting caught with marijuana 
used to carry fear equivalent to getting caught speeding, he said.

For the most part, the day consisted of socializing among friends on the 
Quad. University police Officer Chris Burke said that while he knew people 
were smoking pot, only the two had been arrested.

"Every now and then you catch the waft of the herb," Burke said.

Many students sat in circles playing bongos, clapping their hands and 
listening to the music. Jesse Seuring, junior in LAS, said he came out to 
have a good time.

"These kinds of people seem very united and friendly," Seuring said.

Seuring sat atop a drum playing along with a group of people. He said he 
came to the Quad for the music and culture that he finds appealing.

"It's more like a protest where you show people what your culture is all 
about and let them decide for themselves," Seuring said.