Page 4 -The Michigan Daily - Monday, February 19, 1990 EDITED AND MANAGED BY STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 420 Maynard Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 IssuesForum The $5 Pot Law ARTS NEWS OPINION 763 0379 764 0552 747 2814 PHOTO SPORTS WEEKEND 764 0552 747 3336 747 4630 Unsigned editorials represent a majority of the Daily's Editorial Board. All other cartoons, signed articles, and letters do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Daily. Code. Students must unite to fight the administration THE DECADES-LONG PUSH BY the University administration to insti- tute a comprehensive code of student non-academic conduct is once again gaining momentum, and it is important for students to understand the dangers of such a policy. Members of the ad ministration argue that a documentt governing students' behavir is esse- tial to protecting the bights of all stu dents; essentially, however, such a code would do moie to lirnt the rights of students than to protect them. Proponents of a code have argued that students who break the law, for example by burning down a building, should be expelled from the Unive- sity, and a conduct policy would enable this to happen. But what these advo- cates ignore is the already-existing court system, in which the University can prosecute illegal activity perpetrated by students. Rather than utilizing the established courts, a conduct code would allow the University to act as prosecutor, judge and jury, thereby ig- noring any due process and forcing students to stand trial twice for the same crime. There is no need to set up a separate court system when one al- ready exists. A code could also be used by the administration to stifle political expres- sion, including protests or rallies on the Diag and demonstrations in front of the Fleming Administration Building. Un- der the guise of protecting academic pursuits, a conduct code would em- power the University administration to sanction students for exercising their First Amendment rights. Despite objections to the contrary, the only reason to institute such a pol- icy is to limit free expression beyond the boundaries dictated by the U.S. judicial system. Crimes such as arson, Nicaragua U.S. pl y thr eale i snle THE POSSIBILIY OF FiREE iANDL :fair elections in Nicaragua this Suay is beset with enormous obstacs. Contrary to reports in the corporate media, the main problem is not the risk that the ruling Sandinista party might abuse the powers of incumbency; :rather, the real threat to the integrity of the electoral process comes from United States interference. To begin with, it is embarrassing that the U.S. Congress has appiopn ated $12.5 million to opposition parties in Nicaragua---owr own fedeal law prohibits foreign contributios to pa ties in the United States. But even irie important is the question of whetii fair elections can be held under the threat of war and economic extortion. President Bush has already said he would lift the embargo against Nicaragua and end the contra war i the :U.S.-backed candidate Violeta Barrios de Chamorro wins the election. ;Although one would never know it from reading the newspapers in te United States, it is quite likely that this factor more than any other will bring votes to Chamorro and her UNO coali- tion. It's hard to blame someone who has lost family members to the eight-year conflict, or is suffering from the depri- vation brought on by the U.S. embargo and war, for voting against the Sandin- istas. It is true the Sandinistas achieved remarkable successes in the first few years after the 1979 revolution. Suspend Copeland To the Daily: In response to the editorial (2/13/90), I agree that Todd Copeland should be sus- pended from play for the remainder of the murder or rape will all be punished within the court system so there is no reason for the University to establish its own court. And because free speech and political expression are protected by the Constitution, the University's motive for establishing a code must only be to limit free and open dis- course: A conduct code is not a new idea. ihe University of Michigan is one of only a handful of schools without a policy governing the non-academic conduct of its students. The debate over a conduct code has raged on cam- pus for 20 years, and only the persis- tent opposition by a united group of students has protected students' non- academic freedoms. Two weeks ago, the Michigan Stu- dent Assembly recognized the need for students to band together to oppose the administration's attempts and formed a special committee to organize students against the implementation of a conduct codePresident James Duderstadt and inembers of the Board of Regents have recently reaffirmed their commitment to approving a policy on students' behav- ior and MSA has correctly reacted to thc imninent threat of an all-encom- passing conduct code. In the past, only a unified student opposition has staved off such a policy. in order to resist an administrative attempt to implement a conduct code, students must understand the inherent dangers of a behavioral policy. The discussion of a conduct code will likely become a focus of debate on campus in upcoming months. It is important that students are aware of the dangers of such a code, and that they unite to op- pose the implementation of such a pol- icy. it4y o ele wtoral process Nvicaagua s econorny showed the higli.st.rate of growth in Central Anerca, while inflation was brought under cuntiol. the Nicaraguan gov- ciniiint won awards from the United Natons for its improvements in the lit- er acy and health care of the poor. But by 1983, Reagan's campaign of terror and sabotage had begun to take away some of the gains that had been made. and today the standard of living lo inany, i not most Nicaraguans, has been tailing loi seveial years. usn is hoping that UNO can capi- taLnze on the sulleing that U.S. policy has w iought by blaming it on the San- dinistas. So tar. most polls show Nicaaguans are more sophisticated thaii this, and the Sandinistas are anead As for the Bush administra- tion s attitude toward the elections, it is c-'"iiig cleati that the process will be wgdaletd as fair only if the Sandinistas lose. Ifthey wie; Americans can expect a barrage o disialfuimation designed to justify continuation of the contra war and embargo. These events continue a long tradi- tion of U.S. subversion of democratic elections going back to the Italian and French elections of 1948 and continu- ing through the past four decades in Latin America and elsewhere. Now that the Soviet Union has agreed to respect democratic elections in its part of the world, maybe it's time that the United States government does the same. Voteon April 2nd,i V ote yes.. yes...residents will v By Scott Chupack referendum to I've heard several arguments in favor of legalizing marijuana. These arguments affirm that legalization would cut off the black $5 fine for pos market, stop the drug wars, allow the government to test marijuana marijuana to $; for contaminants, and give Americans the right to smoke marijuana. Unfortunately, a $5 pot law leads to the same problems inherent in you think? legalization, but ignores the advantages. Although many of those who grow and sell marijuana are V t relatively "clean" citizens, the penalties for selling drugs are much o te n o . more serious than $5, meaning that outside of this university, many of the students that deal drugs would be considered criminals. By Brian Jarvinen In addition, a low fine on marijuana still does not give anyone the On April 2nd the citizens of A "right" to smoke it, anymore than they have the "right" to park at an for possession of marijuana will expired meter. This only encourages citizens to break the law. As a Let me begin by saying that it is g result, this law only exists as a sign to the federal legislature to are an increasingly controversial consider legalization, but doesn't stand on very firm ground on its of Ann Arbor should be allowed own. The Ann Arbor Observer pr The previously mentioned problems didn't change when the pot when it noted in the January 1 law was reduced, and there is no reason to believe they will get worse reluctant effort to raise the $5 m with an increased fine. The advantages of increasing the fine are excitement. That's probably bec more significant. have the slightest effecton Ann A NORML (the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws) of the city charter, becomes pur would have you believe that raising the pot fine would not decrease What does marijuana represe usage and perhaps would increase usage because there would be say it is one of thedrugs we arecu more adventure in it. As for increasing usage, NORML's argument marijuana is seen asa"gateway"t may be possible if the issue were legalization, but it's unlikely. After as cocaine. To those in favor, all, who in their right mind would be more likely to commit a crime tolerates drug use - that drug u now that the fine has increased? Nationally, marijuana is oft Illustration by Kevin Woodson As for the second argument, I grant that raising the fine would happens to not have any pot o have little or no effecton those who smoke now. The major effect, dealer might have some other d however, would be on new users, like those just entering the Selling marijuana is still a felon University. A pot fine so ridiculously low gives the message to new $25 pot law. students that not only do the University of Michigan and the City of Marijuana is, as Drug Enfor Ann Arbor tolerate marijuana usage, they endorse it. tive Judge Francis Lawn has sail Finally, most students, when considering this policy, ignore the active substances known to man. fact that not only does this law apply to them, it applies to all of Ann people die as a result of smoking Arbor, specifically the students of the Ann Arbor Public Schools. this. Once someone tries mariju Imagine going through high school in an environment in which you government leads them to belie could get "busted big time" for having alcohol ataparty, butonly get government warnings against t a $5 ticket if you were smoking pot. In fact, the only ill-effect of Although most University of Michigan students would probably Drug-Free America can find to a say they are intelligent enough to weigh the costs and benefits of under the influence of marijuana smoking marijuana in a rational manner, the average Ann Arbor high their "And they say marijuana d school, middle school, and even elementary school student is much ignores the thousands of deaths more susceptible to peer pressure. But since most of these students which illustrates the legality of care about their record and in obeying the law, a hard-line approach what people do while under the to marijuana would give them the motivation to avoid peer pressure. By that logic alone, alcohol Most supporters of the $5 law are convinced that smoking pot is thing America has already trie not all that bad. Since I wasn't sure of the effects myself, I did some tragic accident, marijuana serve research and found out quite a bit. First of all, according to a ing managerial failures that all University of California study, one marijuana cigarette produces 5 could operate the train after us times the carbon monoxide of a nicotine cigarette. That's the punished or fired. poisonous carcinogen that harms the smoker and those around who A similar instance of using are forced to breathe in the air. This means that even the casual incidents occurred last spring he marijuana smoker is in greater danger than a regular cigarette two "basketball riots" was bla smoker. Marijuana has also been shown to negatively affect the Bash 12 hours earlier. Anyon growth of adolescents, both physically and sexually. problems were not caused by p Smoking among young people tends to interfere with all aspects Yes, the $5 pot law is a s of the learning process and also interferes with social development. recognizes the relative safety of Smoking pot can also have permanent effects on the fetuses of preg- and that our city will not waste nant women, and women who do smoke pot are 4 times as likely to less marijuana users. Even May have a stillbirth. Marijuana impairs driving ability, even though the that alcohol, which along with c person doesn't realize it. It causes heart damage, lung damage, and of death in this country, is the m causes cancer. want to continue to support hyp like nicotine and alcohol to be w Finally, surveys show that regular marijuana users are more while the "safest" drug is illegal likely to experiment with other, more dangerous drugs. I strongly fines. suggest that those who smoke marijuana do at least a little research before they conclude that marijuana isn't all that serious. If this bill passes you will pr If, on April 2nd, you are only interested in making a symbolic further penalize marijuana us vote for mock legalization, then by all means, vote no on raising the continue tobe de-emphasizeda pot fine. If, however, you are interested in making a rational policy raising the $5 fine for cannabis decision based on a true cost-benefit analysis, I urge you to vote yes. Arbor's uniquely enlightenedp Chupack is a first year engineering student. Jarvinen is an LSA iunior and %nn Arbor vote on a raise the city's session of 25. What do .. knn Arbor will decide if the penalty be raised from the current $5 to $25. food that this vote will occur. Drugs issue in our society and the citizens d to decide this for themselves. obably best summarized this issue 990 issue that "Mayor Jernigan's irijuana fine isn't generating much- ause changing the law isn't likely to krbor's drug use." Thus the law, part' ely symbolic. t? Those in favor of raising the fine rrentlyatwaragainst. Additionally tousing more dangerous drugs such. the $5 fine says that Ann Arbor ise will not be punished severely. en placed in the same category as other illegal drugs. People using any illegal drug are stigmatized and discriminated against, usu- ally withoutregard to which drug" they might use. Regarding the gateway issue, it is probably true that marijuana is the first illegal drug that many, people use. However, I think it is rarely the first drug that teen-: agers experiment with. Sur- rounded by advertising and a culture that glorifies their use, alcohol and cigarettes are the drugs most teenagers discover before trying marijuana. Many users of the so-called "harder' drugs only come into contact with them because some marijuana dealers also provide other drugs. Say a particular drug dealer 0 n a particular day. Many times the rugs the customer could try instead, y and will not be affected by a $5 or cement Agency Chief Administra- d, "one of the safest therapeutically ." There is no lethal dosage; very few marijuana. Most pot smokers know ana and finds it to be safer than the ve, how credible will that user find he other illegal drugs? marijuana that the Partnership for a ttack are accidents caused by people a, such as the train wreck featured in doesn't kill"ad. Yet this completely caused by drunk drivers each year, a substance will have no bearing on effects of that substance. should obviously be illegal, some- ed. Additionally, in the case of the s as a convenient scapegoat, obscur- owed the train engineer to think he ing cannabis without fear of being marijuana to account for unwanted ere in Ann Arbor when the first of the med on people attending the Hash e who was there could see that the eople who had been smoking pot. ; ymbol. To me, it says Ann Arbor marijuana compared to other drugs, precious resources harassing harmi or Jernigan admitted in the Observer igarettes is one of the leading causes ost abused drug in Ann Arbor. If yob ocritical laws that allow deadly drugg videly advertised and easily availablq , by all means vote to raise marijuan4 0 0 robably soon have the opportunity to ers. If you'd rather see marijuana s aproblem locally, please vote no on possession, and help maintain Ann position in the War on Drugs. a member of the Daily's Arts staff. Michigan hockey. Obviously, Copeland is not a team player. Copeland didn't think about the team before he acted. He didn't consider what his off-ice antics could do for the im- age of the team, If Copeland can't conform to acceptable team behavior, then he Pro-choice does not mean pro-abortion To the Daily: I would like to point out a gross mis- .......,. ..- 6 6- ..0 - T t. a -L 1 - procedure which should be encouraged. However, nobody likes abortion. On the other hand, the term pro-choice means that a person supports a woman's right to choose to have an abortion if she feels it is her best option. Liz Pearlson LSA senior Silber conceded, he was Preserver of the Republic. It is true that Lincoln did not follow the Constitution strictly, but con- sidering the upheaval at the time, a quicker, more decisive President helped avoid even more tragic losses.