NORML GOES UP IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE

This semester left a University marijuana advocacy group dazed and
confused about its rights as a student organization.

The University chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws plans to appeal a sanction of two years probation,
claiming the group was punished too harshly.

After a hearing spanning two days, NORML was found to have violated
University trademarks and failed to follow the instructions of
University officials.

NORML officers contest the decision, claiming the logo in question is
a satire and the intellectual property of the artist. They said NORML
did everything in its power to follow officials' instructions.

The logo depicts a cartoon bulldog smoking while studying underneath the Arch.

On Feb. 11, University officials from the Center for Student
Organizations contacted NORML via e-mail, asking the organization to
cease distribution of T-shirts bearing the logo and to remove the
logo from its Web site.

Later in the week, CSO contacted NORML officers again, saying the
organization could continue selling the shirts, but were barred from
printing any more.

On Feb. 16, NORML was contacted by Joshua Podvin, assistant director
of student activities and organizations, who asked for all unsold
T-shirts. Podvin also gave the organization a deadline for removing
the logo from the Web site.

Wojciech Kaczkowski - a junior from Krakow, Poland, and president of
NORML - responded to the messages, saying NORML had sold all of its
shirts and was unable to alter its site because the member who ran it
was out of the country.

After the deadline passed and NORML had not removed the image from
its site, the organization was informed it was thought to be in
violation of the University code of conduct, initiating the judicial
process. NORML was offered a sanction of one year of probation so
long as they admitted to the violations in question.

NORML decided not to accept the offer.

At the hearing, Kaczkowski contested the logo was not a trademark
violation and the organization had done everything possible to meet
officials' demands.

The University advocate claimed the logo and the organizations'
inability to meet officials' deadlines were clearly in violation of
University policy.

Despite their troubles with the University, NORML members continue to
petition for the decriminalization of holding less than seven grams
of marijuana.

Kaczkowski said NORML hopes to have enough signatures on its petition
to get this proposition on the ballot for 2010.