EDUCATING ABOUT THE WAR ON DRUGS

Making a difference is something sophomore Zack Gold has dreamed of
since high school.

Gold, a communication major, is starting a new Resident Student
Organization that will lobby state legislators to find better drug
laws.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is a national organization committed
to providing education on harms caused by the war on drugs. He also
works to involve youth in the political process.

"The goal is not to legalize drug laws but find better laws that will
be more effective in curbing drug use," Gold said.

SSDP started in 1998 and has expanded to approximately 80 colleges and
high schools in the country.

Currently, the College Democrats and DUSC have expressed interest in
the RSO, Gold said.

He said he wants to educate the public and Congress that the war on
drugs is not working.

In an effort to set guidelines for financial aid, the Higher Education
Act was signed and passed in 2000.

He said the act mandates that a student who has been convicted of a
drug-related offense automatically loses financial aid.

The HEA sparked students to speak, and the SSDP formed.

Gold said House Resolution 1053, a law that has not yet been
introduced to Congress, will repeal the drug-free provision of the HEA
if passed.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., introduced the bill Feb. 28. Frank
supported drug reform and the SSDP.

Gold said he is trying to rally students to lobby Rep. Michael N.
Castle, R-Del., to get his support for the new bill.

He said he has strong views on the war on drugs and wants to educate
others on campus.

"This is the best organization because it fits my beliefs," he
said.

Gold said drug conviction is the only crime for which the federal
government has the right to take away financial aid.

"Caffeine, tobacco, alcohol and television are drugs that are accepted
in our society," he said. "But something like marijuana is arguably
less dangerous than them all and is demonized by the
government."

Gold said if Resolution 1053 gets passed, the organization will move
on to other issues involving drug laws that affect students.

"It's important to me," he said. "I hope it's important to
others."