STUDENTS PUSH FOR DRUG POLICY GROUP

A small group of students interested in advocating drug policy reform
is trying to establish a chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy
(SSDP) as an official Northeastern student group, despite the
pronouncement from university officials last year that the group posed
a reputational risk to the university.

SSDP is an international grassroots coalition that seeks to resolve
drug problems "through focused research, honest dialogue, and informed
debate, instead of unquestioned extremism, punishment, and
propaganda," according to the group's website. It encourages its
members to become involved with the political process and push for
drug laws that it deems more "sensible," including the
decriminalization of marijuana, the website said.

Risk management typically looks at how a company's actions, policies
and partnerships might affect the institution and creates plans to
avoid potential problems.

Potentially controversial student groups are reviewed by
Northeastern's office of risk management, which is a division of the
counsel's office, before a decision is made, said Jason Foster,
associate director of student activities and leadership.

Last year, the students who attempted to form an official SSDP student
group were stymied by the university counsel's office, said Kevin
Franciotti, a junior neuroscience major who took over SSDP earlier
this year.

In an Aug. 18 e-mail to Franciotti, which he provided to The News,
Foster said, "As you may know, a private institution is not required
to approve all student groups that are proposed, and due to the nature
of your student group as it stands now, it cannot be recommended for
approval."

However, Foster said the formation of the student group is not off the
table.

"Where they are right now is to refine the proposal from last year,"
Foster said.

Franciotti decided to try to make SSDP a recognized student group
again this year.

"We're not talking about legalizing drugs," he said. "We're talking
about good people who years later still have a red mark on their record."

This year, Foster said Franciotti and other SSDP members will have to
answer questions from administrators and the Student Activities Board
before they are approved for student group status.

Foster said for a group to become recognized by the university, it
must have 12 student members, a faculty advisor and a written
constitution. If a group seems controversial or a potential liability,
senior administrators and the university counsel's office are brought
in to discuss potential risks, he said.

Because SSDP is not an official student group on campus, Franciotti
had to go to City Hall last week to get permits to hand out flyers to
prospective members during Welcome Week, he said. On Sept. 8,
Franciotti and a handful of SSDP members handed out flyers on Forsyth
Street during the New Student BBQ, and on Sept. 11 members handed out
flyers at the Northeastern T stop at the same time as the Student
Activities Fair.

Administrators are looking for SSDP to write a constitution, find a
faculty advisor, Foster said, and provide information about other
private universities with chapters of SSDP on campus. The Student
Advisory Board has assigned a board member to help SSDP find a faculty
advisor and write their constitution, he said.

"We just need to get as much information as possible," Foster
said.

The Student Government Association makes the final decision to
recognize student groups, Foster said. Franciotti said he has gone to
all the meetings potential student groups need to attend during the
group-forming process.

Franciotti said he met about 50 people interested in attending the
group's first meeting, which will be held sometime this week.

On Nov. 4, Massachusetts voters will make a decision on the state's
drug policy as a question about decriminalizing marijuana is on the
ballot. The result of the ballot question will become law. SSDP will
work to convince voters to support decriminalization, Franciotti said.

"I still think more needs to be done to mainstream the issue and get
people to talk about this in an open environment," he said.