Pubdate: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 Source: Northeastern News, The (Northeastern U, MA Edu) Copyright: 2008 The Northeastern News Contact: http://www.nu-news.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2814 Author: Matt Collette Cited: Students For Sensible Drug Policy http://www.ssdp.org STUDENTS PUSH FOR DRUG POLICY GROUP A small group of students interested in advocating drug policy reform is trying to establish a chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) as an official Northeastern student group, despite the pronouncement from university officials last year that the group posed a reputational risk to the university. SSDP is an international grassroots coalition that seeks to resolve drug problems "through focused research, honest dialogue, and informed debate, instead of unquestioned extremism, punishment, and propaganda," according to the group's website. It encourages its members to become involved with the political process and push for drug laws that it deems more "sensible," including the decriminalization of marijuana, the website said. Risk management typically looks at how a company's actions, policies and partnerships might affect the institution and creates plans to avoid potential problems. Potentially controversial student groups are reviewed by Northeastern's office of risk management, which is a division of the counsel's office, before a decision is made, said Jason Foster, associate director of student activities and leadership. Last year, the students who attempted to form an official SSDP student group were stymied by the university counsel's office, said Kevin Franciotti, a junior neuroscience major who took over SSDP earlier this year. In an Aug. 18 e-mail to Franciotti, which he provided to The News, Foster said, "As you may know, a private institution is not required to approve all student groups that are proposed, and due to the nature of your student group as it stands now, it cannot be recommended for approval." However, Foster said the formation of the student group is not off the table. "Where they are right now is to refine the proposal from last year," Foster said. Franciotti decided to try to make SSDP a recognized student group again this year. "We're not talking about legalizing drugs," he said. "We're talking about good people who years later still have a red mark on their record." This year, Foster said Franciotti and other SSDP members will have to answer questions from administrators and the Student Activities Board before they are approved for student group status. Foster said for a group to become recognized by the university, it must have 12 student members, a faculty advisor and a written constitution. If a group seems controversial or a potential liability, senior administrators and the university counsel's office are brought in to discuss potential risks, he said. Because SSDP is not an official student group on campus, Franciotti had to go to City Hall last week to get permits to hand out flyers to prospective members during Welcome Week, he said. On Sept. 8, Franciotti and a handful of SSDP members handed out flyers on Forsyth Street during the New Student BBQ, and on Sept. 11 members handed out flyers at the Northeastern T stop at the same time as the Student Activities Fair. Administrators are looking for SSDP to write a constitution, find a faculty advisor, Foster said, and provide information about other private universities with chapters of SSDP on campus. The Student Advisory Board has assigned a board member to help SSDP find a faculty advisor and write their constitution, he said. "We just need to get as much information as possible," Foster said. The Student Government Association makes the final decision to recognize student groups, Foster said. Franciotti said he has gone to all the meetings potential student groups need to attend during the group-forming process. Franciotti said he met about 50 people interested in attending the group's first meeting, which will be held sometime this week. On Nov. 4, Massachusetts voters will make a decision on the state's drug policy as a question about decriminalizing marijuana is on the ballot. The result of the ballot question will become law. SSDP will work to convince voters to support decriminalization, Franciotti said. "I still think more needs to be done to mainstream the issue and get people to talk about this in an open environment," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath