IT'S OFFICIALLY HIGH TIMES FOR URI STUDENTS

University of Rhode Island students don't need to get stoned to have
high times.

High Times magazine worked with Students for Sensible Drug Policy to
formulate a list of the top 10 counter-culture colleges. This year,
the marijuana culture magazine's stoner-friendly guide lists colleges
based on activism rather than stoner culture.

URI ranks number six on the list that appears in the October 2006
issue of the magazine. Brown University, the only other Rhode Island
school, ranks number 10.

Micah Daigle, field director for SSDP and former leader of the URI
chapter, said that SSDP picked 10 colleges and High Times actually did
the ranking.

"Clearly URI was on that list," he said. 'We're very pleased with the
decision to focus on activism, which is much more important than the
recreational activities of college students."

In its quest to oppose strict drug laws in the United States, High
Times decided to enlist the support of college students across the
country. SSDP Executive Director Kris Kane worked closely with High
Times this year to create the list of colleges, and, with a visible
chapter and active student participation, URI earned a spot on the
list.

Last year, URI SSDP leaders worked with President Robert L. Carothers
to lobby Congress to repeal the Higher Education Act Aid Elimination
Provision, which denies or takes away federal aid from college
students with a drug conviction. The measure, passed in 1998 affects
roughly 160,000 students across the country, according to SSDP.

The magazine also points out the work of SSDP students to oppose
changes to the Student Handbook last year. The changes, which
ultimately passed despite student protests, expanded the university's
judicial power to off campus locations and significantly lowered the
standard needed to search residence hall rooms.

"Helming one of the most visible chapters in the country, URI SSDP
leaders have worked closely with their school's administration-sometimes
collaboratively and sometimes combatively," the magazine reported.

Along with Brown's chapter, the URI SSDP lobbied for the passage of
Rhode Island's medical marijuana law passed in January over the
governor's veto. The law allows patients to use and have small amounts
of marijuana to treat a "debilitating medical condition" such as
cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, HIV or Hepatitis C.

Some URI students, although unaware of the list, felt it could be a
positive sign for the university.

"I feel it's a good thing if the university is more conscious about
drug use. It will make URI students safer," junior Brinton MacFarland
said.

Senior Ahmed Bharoocha said the list should bring the issue center
stage.

"It keeps everyone aware," Bharoocha said. "It doesn't matter what
your views are as long as all views are out there."

Kaitlyn Grimes feels the ranking could be a good thing.

"As long as we're not promoting drug use in a bad way and people
aren't being arrested," she said.

High Times began the rankings in 2002 and 2006 marks the first time
URI has made the list. Rankings were formulated by questionnaires
filled out by students about whether they believed school authorities
should loosen penalties for marijuana possession on campus. The
University of Maryland ranked first because of a strong representation
from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and
the passage of the Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation.

[sidebar]

Top 10 Counter-Culture Colleges

1. University of Maryland

2. University of California- Santa Barbara

3. University of Missouri

4. University of Colorado

5. University of Central Florida

6. University of Rhode Island

7. SUNY New Paltz

8. McGill University

9. Florida State University

10. Brown University

Source: High Times, October 2006