Pubdate: Mon, 26 Nov 2001
Source: Athens News, The (OH)
Copyright: 2001, Athens News
Contact:  http://www.athensnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1603
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1939/a08.html?1646
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1903/a12.html?1646
Author: Patricia Schwarz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

HOW DOES POT SMOKING AMOUNT TO A TRANSGRESSION AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY?

I was shocked and amazed to read the phrase "transgressions against the 
University" in a story about OU marijuana policy. For what purpose does a 
university exist? Not for its own purpose but for the purposes of the 
people who are served by the university.

A university is built around two classes of people -- the people who put up 
a small fortune to pay for the services offered by the university, and the 
faculty who dedicate their careers to providing the actual services that 
define the purpose of the university. Only these two groups of people 
should have the right to decide what constitutes a transgression against 
those interests that the university exists to serve.

The only transgressions that can possibly matter here are transgressions 
against the interests of faculty and students, and one could make a strong 
case that marijuana prohibition, in and of itself, constitutes a 
transgression against that community.

Patricia Schwarz, Pasadena, Calif.
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MAP posted-by: Jackl