PROTEST GROUPS CLASH AT UNIVERSITY

About 40 people who joined a protest yesterday against the recent
arrests on Otago University's campus of three political activists were
themselves the target of a smaller group protesting the use of illegal
drugs on campus.

The second group of about 15 people who held banners reading Free
Speech, Not Drugs and chanted "We don't care, get off our campus,
clear the air" said they were students opposed to people smoking
marijuana on the university campus.

Police and the university's security team, Campus Watch, stayed away
from the 2pm protest, during which people marched from the Union Lawn
on campus to the university's registry building.

Protest organiser Cory Anderson said the recent arrests of three
supporters of the pro-cannabis legislation reform group the National
Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml) at a Norml stand
during a students association market day were a blatant attack on
civil rights, especially the rights to free speech, freedom of
expression and association.

The three men were arrested after being watched by plain clothes
police officers.

The arrests were also an attempt by the police to "intimidate and
quash" a political movement by arresting its leaders and those in
association with them, he said.

Protesters held signs that read Defend Civil Liberties and chanted
"Cops off Campus" as they marched.

Norml members have received increased publicity lately following the
arrests, the subsequent trespass notices issued to the men and a
police crack-down on a weekly "protest smoke-up" on the university
campus.

Commerce student Lawrence Tuck, who marched with the anti-drug smoking
group, said those marching with him were mostly members of a Facebook
group he started recently in favour of a drug-free campus.

"We are a bunch of students who believe that drugs are illegal and
should not be allowed to be used on campus.

"Anyone else using them would be arrested, but somehow these people
have been afforded the right to break the law. It seems they have had
the full support of the university too."

Supporter Rachel Schryvers said marijuana was an addictive drug and
New Zealanders were constantly being reminded of the destructive side
of addiction.

"So no to this is saying no to this particular culture."

There was a difference between freedom of speech and illegal
activities on campus, Mr Tuck said.

Those on the other side of the protest said they wanted to make a
point.

Student Paul McMullan said he joined the protest against the arrest of
the activists to make a point about the "silly activity of the
authorities" which he described as a "waste of time".

Law lecturer Andrew Geddes said it was pleasing to see students taking
an interest in political matters.

"While I'm not fully sympathetic with the marijuana issue, people are
actually going out and are willing to debate the issues. It's a loss
to the campus that these sorts of protests aren't held any more."

Mr Anderson said he was pleased with the way the protest
went.

He believed more people would have turned out had the weather been
better.