PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AIMS TO SHED 'POTHEAD' IMAGE

Jay Bundy says he's fed up with being called the "pothead president."

"It's not like we're saying, 'free buds for everyone,' or 'we're
gonna hand out nuggets,' " Chris Brink, Bundy's vice presidential
candidate, said. "No. It's not like that."

Brink and Bundy are running on the presidential ticket for the
University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) elections that will
be held this Wednesday.

President of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana
Laws (NORML), Bundy said the administration should accept his
platform regardless of his advocacy for the legalization of an
illegal substance. Felicia McGinty, associate vice president for
student engagement, said if elected she would work with Bundy in all
situations, including making positive life decisions.

"Whoever is elected, I have an obligation to work with that leader,"
she said. "Part of that is to coach that leader to make good
choices. As an adviser, I would have to separate my belief so that I
can be unbiased in the way I approach things."

McGinty said that the choice to support Bundy is a student decision.

"Who cares what I think?" she said. "Hell, I'm 39."

Though accused on www.psustop.com, an anti-UPUA Web site, of using
drug references to promote his campaign, Brink said the slogan "The
Best Jay in Town," is referring to opponent Jay Chamberlin. Brink
said they revoked their original slogan, "Pass the Jay," because of
potential connotations.

Jay Chamberlin, UPUA presidential candidate, said he has not used
marijuana. He added that Bundy's past could hurt him in the future.

"It takes a lot of courage to be the president of that kind of
club," he said. "But some employers might look down on that."

Mike Hines, UPUA presidential candidate, said he has no problem with
Bundy "doing his thing," but it's not something he would endorse.

"It's free speech. He can say what he wants," he said. "Personally,
I don't smoke pot. I like to stay healthy. I have an addictive
personality. If I smoked it, I'd get addicted to it."

Nick Stathes, president of the Undergraduate Student Government,
would not comment on whether he uses marijuana, but he said Bundy's
leisure activities should be left out of the picture.

"I believe that an individual could be successful at anything
regardless of personal choices," he said. "However, I would hope
that if Bundy is elected he puts his opinion on marijuana advocacy
on the backburner."

Bundy said cannabis laws would be absent in UPUA if he were elected
president but NORML would continue to play a significant role in his
campaign through donations and support.

"People in NORML are friends with [Bundy], and we help him out
whenever we can," Chris Peters, NORML member, said.

Brink said he hopes voters and the administration can put their
opinions on Bundy's marijuana use behind them.

"It's a freedom thing. You should be able to partake in any
substance you like," Brink said. "You can find a flaw in everything.
If their flaw is marijuana, then that's pretty close-minded."