Pubdate: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 Source: Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) Copyright: 2004 Kalamazoo Gazette Contact: http://kz.mlive.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/588 Cited: November Coalition http://www.november.org/ Cited: Institute for Policy Studies http://www.ips-dc.org/projects/drugpolicy.htm Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Bill+Masters Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Nora+Callahan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Sanho+Tree FORUM FEATURES SEVERAL VIEWPOINTS ON DRUG WAR The war on drugs will be a topic for discussion Thursday night at Western Michigan University's Bernhard Center. Several individuals, including justice and law-enforcement officials from throughout the state, will take part in the debate. The event, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., is part of the WMU Peace Week celebration and is open to the public. The discussion will feature eight panelists, including Kalamazoo County Prosecutor James Gregart, Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Philip D. Schaefer and Detective Lt. Bill Ford, commander of the Southwest Enforcement Team. The discussion will center on the country's fight against drugs and will feature several viewpoints on the matter. Sheriff Bill Masters, of the San Miguel County, Colo., Sheriff's Department will take part in the event. Masters has served with the department since 1979 and is an advocate for the repeal of drug prohibition, according to a WMU news release. Other participants in the debate will include state Sen. Tom George, the Rev. Edwin C. Sanders II, Nora Callahan and Sanho Tree. Sanders is the founder and senior servant of the Metropolitan Interdenominational Church, which has outreach ministries for drug abusers. Callahan is a founder of the November Coalition, which she founded with her brother, who is currently serving a 27-year sentence in a federal penitentiary. The coalition attempts to raise awareness about the injustices of the drug war. Tree is a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C., and director of the organization's drug-policy project, the news release said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake