USG VOTES TO HELP FUND HEMPFEST

The Undergraduate Student Government voted Feb. 21 to give $1,000 to
Students for Sensible Drug Policy to cover security and safety costs
at the student organization's annual Hempfest.

The bill passed by a 13-10 vote, with five abstentions. Before the
vote, some senators expressed concern about the group's political nature.

"I was expecting a lot of opposition, and going in I knew it was a
matter of framing the issue," said Sen. Nick Marconi, who sponsored
the bill.

Hempfest did not receive funding from USG in 2006 because of problems
with paperwork, but has in the past, Marconi said.

"Because Hempfest is put on by a student group, we have to pay for
things like security to make sure the event is safe and secure for
everyone," said SSDP President Zach Germaniuk.

Hempfest is held in the South Oval each year and is meant to educate
the public on current drug policies and issues.

"We're going to have multicultural groups, student awareness groups,
international groups and 50 confirmed musical acts," said Germaniuk, a
sophomore in English.

The event has caused SSDP legal troubles in the past, such as in 2004
when Ohio State officials attempted to shut it down.

"We accepted it, assembled a legal team and won," Germaniuk said. "No
surprise there."

Hempfest is important because it takes advantage of students' First
Amendment rights, Marconi said.

"Hempfest has been going on for 21 years and is relatively safe
compared to other things like the Mirror Lake jump," he said.

Others also agree that USG should help fund the event.

"It's a good use of money because a lot of people enjoy it," said Jon
Naylor, a senior in sports and leisure studies.

Members of SSDP also have several upcoming events to help raise money,
such as a bake sale with the help of Buckeye Donuts.

"Hempfest is an event that the entire campus community should really
rally around," Germaniuk said.

Hempfest is scheduled for Saturday, June 2 from noon until midnight,
with live music ending at 11:30 p.m.