Pubdate: Mon, 09 Dec 2002
Source: Shepherd Express (WI)
Copyright: 2002 Alternative Publications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.shepherd-express.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/414
Author: Ann Boeger
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raves.htm (Raves)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy)

NOW, GO ... AND RAVE NO MORE!

Thanks for commenting on the rave bust in Racine the other week 
["Bust-happy Cops in Racine?", Nov. 21]. I'm a member and officer for 
UW-Milwaukee's Students for Sensible Drug Policy. At our national 
conference in Anaheim, Calif., everyone was talking about it. The foremost 
drug-policy reformers in this country were indignantly calling for action 
against this ridiculous assault on our rights. It's wonderful to hear that 
the ACLU is getting so involved in the case.

The government is claiming a new enemy in its War on Drugs. Once merely a 
war against the poor and minorities, it is now expanding into a war against 
young people. First, they rewrote federal financial-aid requirements to 
deny and delay aid to students charged with drug offenses.

Mind you this is ONLY in regard to drug offenses. Jimmy can rape Jenny and 
go to college for free, but when Johnny gets caught with a joint, he's 
going to lose his grants. Great. Next, the Supreme Court ruled that it's 
constitutional for high schools to drug test all participants in 
after-school activities. Not only is this a serious invasion of a student's 
right to privacy, it will certainly discourage many students from 
participating in activities that can greatly enrich their lives.

Now they're cracking down on raves, one of the major ways teens and young 
adults have fun now. Like one person stated in your article, "Most ravers 
aren't drug addicts, but dance addicts."

Ann Boeger Milwaukee
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom