On Monday, I published an article in The Daily Campus called, "We American drug market fuel international war on drugs." It linked the rampant drug culture in America (particularly the use of marijuana) to the cartel violence raging in Mexico. In the past day I have received numerous emails from various readers of The Daily Campus, most of which are not affiliated with SMU. All of the emails were concerned with the legalization of marijuana, which my article, in fact, never denounced nor promoted. [continues 665 words]
It is generally common knowledge that there is a drug war going on in Mexico. Cartels run rampant through the entire country, making unfathomable sums of money from the drug trade. None of these drug cartels would exist if there was not a market for the illicit substances they sell. We are their market. You see, America has a drug problem. No matter where you go, whether it is on the SMU campus or to the poorest neighborhoods in the United States, there will be drugs. It is as much a part of us as Ford, hamburgers or apple pie. [continues 430 words]
Four years ago SMU was rocked by the deaths of sophomore Jacob Stiles, freshman Jordan Crist and senior Meaghan Bosch due to drugs and alcohol. Amidst the sadness, many loudly criticized SMU's drug culture. It was this culture, they say, which contributed to the three deaths. "Drugs are woven into the Greek system and the social fabric of the university," Bosch's father, Joseph Bosch, said. Four years later, what has changed? It's true that SMU has become more involved in efforts to curb and prevent drug and alcohol abuse. The Task Force on Substance Abuse Prevention delivered 30 recommendations to President R. Gerald Turner; 21 of those were accepted. Now the Task Force is called the Commission on Substance Abuse Prevention and Education. [continues 370 words]
Student Shares the Effect of International Problems on Her Family In the past four years, Mexican President Felipe Calderon's 'War on Drugs' has cost more than 28,000 people their lives, according to a CNN report. While 90 to 95 percent of the fatalities are amongst drug cartels, Mexicans and several Americans in border towns have fallen victims to the drug violence in daily shootouts, chases, kidnappings and blockades. The U.S. Department of State Bureau and Consular Affairs' July 15 travel warning informs Americans about Mexican border towns that experience daily firefights. [continues 822 words]
It's high time we halt the relentless discrimination against individuals convicted of drug-related crimes. I recently learned of a ban on federal financial aid for students with drug convictions. Under this ban even a single, minor drug charge or violation (including possession of drug paraphernalia) will prevent a student from receiving financial aid for college. In other words, that funky Phish bong you picked up at Pipe Dream could cost you more than just retail. As the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) notes, "This means that if your parents can afford to pay for college, you will be unaffected by this measure. But for low or middle income students, this misguided provision could mean the end of a college education and all of the advantages it offers." [continues 878 words]
