Pubdate: Thu, 05 May 2005
Source: New Paltz Oracle (SUNY, NY Edu)
Contact:  http://oracle.newpaltz.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3783
Author: Charles Haug, Contributing Writer
Related: Rally photos http://www.newpaltz.edu/norml/
Related: New Paltz Times article 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n739/a01.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

STUDENTS RALLY TO CHANGE CAMPUS DRUG POLICY

About 250 students gathered for a protest on Friday, April 29 in front
of the Haggerty Administration Building on the SUNY New Paltz Campus,
calling for an end to the policy of expulsion as a sanction for drug
possession.

Among the protesters were students from National Organization for the
Reform of Marijuana Laws/ Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, several
student senators, Students Against Empire and other groups.

Speakers at the protest included Village of New Paltz Mayor Jason West
and Student Senate Chair Justin Holmes.

The protesters' main demand is that the administration be willing to
negotiate openly with the Student Association and come up with a
solution so that there will be an immediate end to the expulsions.

New Paltz is the only SUNY college with mandatory expulsion for first
or second time offenses for drug possession.

"This is really about respecting the will of the students and allowing
them a voice in the laws that govern them," said Holmes.

The protestors feel that the issue of drug possession, use and abuse
should be taken as a public health issue, not a criminal justice
issue. They feel that they should not be judged on what they put in
their bodies, but instead on how they perform as students.

The protestors also voiced their concerns for the way the campus
judicial system has been treating drug offense cases.

Many students feel people are being expelled without having any
evidence presented against them and without having fair trials.

"My constituents are facing eviction without due process or appeal,"
said West.

The students are also calling for the administration to recognize
Student Senate Resolution 6, Removing Impediments to Students
Education Under Prohibition. The act plans to end expulsions for drug
possession, also making drug offenses a lower priority for Residence
Life and University Police, and they want to have drug use and abuse
dealt with as a public health issue instead of Judicial issue.

They plan to offer drug education and treatment instead of expelling
the students and have this be decided on a case-by-case basis.

The protestors have given the administration two weeks to respond
before further action is taken while it has defended the current
policies largely on cultural grounds.

"The current policies that we have really reflect the college's values
that we have as a community right now," said President Steven Poskanzer. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake