SSDP PUSHES REFORM

The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition (MassCann) hosted the 20th
annual Freedom Rally, commonly referred to as "HempFest," in Boston Common
Sept. 19- the first time the pro-marijuana rally was held since state
voters passed Question 2, which decriminalized possession of less than an
ounce of the substance.

This year, 136 citations of $100 each for marijuana possession were
issued. Three were arrested for possession with intent to distribute,
according to the Boston Globe. This is down from 53 arrests in 2006 for
marijuana-related charges.

Northeastern's chapter of Student for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) had a
table at the event to educate people about the cause.

"It was good to be able to talk to people and educate the kids who were
just there for the fun of being at 'HempFest,'" said Katie Bendoraitis, a
founding member of NU's SSDP. "It was good to talk to them because a lot
aren't aware of policy initiatives, particularly at the college level."

"This was arguably the best celebration of their successes in the past
year, getting question 2 passed," added Kevin Fraciotti, a founding member
and current co-president of SSDP. "It was clear that the tides had
definitely turned in Boston."

While the tides may have turned in our city, they have not turned on our
campus.

"Northeastern has the most draconian [drug policies] in the nation," said
Franciotti.

Co-president Kevin Wadsworth, also a founding member, compared
Northeastern's drug policy to those of MIT and Harvard.

"You have to get in trouble multiple times at either school before you see
a fine," Wadsworth said. "The default punishment at Harvard is that you
have a consult; it's not even referred to as drug therapy, they're very
careful of the wording. Almost as if they recognize that it's possible to
use certain drugs recreationally without it becoming an abuse problem."

Bendoraitis was a student member-at-large on the conduct review board last
year. She said that it was "almost frightening to see how irrationally
dedicated [the administration is] to their current ideas on drugs."

"It was a good experience to see firsthand how thick and heavy the
blinders are that the administration is wearing when it comes to the drug
policy in general and the policy on marijuana specifically," said
Bendoraitis. "They still lump all illegal drugs together. If you're caught
with an ounce of heroin, you're subject to the exact same penalties,
theoretically, if you're caught with an ounce of marijuana. That's
something they refuse to budge on. They absolutely will not take a
'reputational risk' as a university when it comes to bringing their
policies in line with the policies of greater Massachusetts."

In the Code of Student Conduct at Northeastern, the "possession or
consumption of illegal drugs, salvia divinorum, or prescription
medications belonging to another individual" is a level two violation.

"Sexual misconduct is a level two violation, which includes exposing your
genitals to a person or to the general public," Bendoraitis said. "That
also includes filming a sex act and disseminating the video without the
knowledge of the other person. The university honest to God believes that
smoking a joint in your room deserves the same penalty as filming a sex
act without notifying your partner and putting it on YouTube. It would be
laughable if it wasn't so deranged."

Student Government Association is always taking recommendations for the
Code of Student Conduct, President Ryan Fox said.

"Reform is always on the back of our minds," said Fox. "We're always open
to suggestions, and that's generally how things start. We are always
trying to compare Northeastern to other schools in the area, physically
and in the same rank as us. We feel as though that's a good way to gauge
how we are doing."

Bendoraitis said that a most basic reform would be to "sever marijuana
from all other illegal drugs," meaning that the punishment for marijuana
would be less harsh than the punishment for cocaine or ecstasy. Wadsworth
said that the university needs to look at the alcohol policies compared to
those for marijuana.

"The penalty for using drugs is essentially double than for using
alcohol," Wadsworth said. "Meanwhile we have all these problems, community
relations with neighborhoods like Mission Hill and Jamaica Plain. It's all
alcohol parties. When was the last time a bunch of stoners sitting at home
really bothered the neighbors? It's absolutely backwards."

"Plus, it's those same neighbors that voted yes on Prop 2," added
Bendoraitis. "The university is worried about offending the surrounding
community, when the surrounding community said quite clearly when they
voted yes on Prop 2 that they really don't care if a student is sitting at
home smoking a joint and playing video games."

Franciotti said that he doesn't think that NU's current harsh drug
policies are helping anyone, least of all the kids who need it.

"I've seen positive changes in the substance abuse treatment that we offer
at our school," he said. "University Health and Counseling Services is
much more upfront about advertising their substance abuse counseling
sessions. I support the Office of Prevention and Education at Northeastern
because of their voluntary approach. They have some OSCCR and NUPD
referrals, but they really stress the fact that they want students to come
talk to them. They want to hear from students first and have students come
in on their own. We need further changes to reduce the amount of OSCCR
referrals and increase the amount of kids going to OPEN voluntarily."

Northeastern was ranked number 15 on a list of top colleges for marijuana
activism by High Times Magazine, mostly due to the success of SSDP in
fighting the administration for recognition as a group and for the success
of the two conferences they held last year. NU was a co-host for the
northeast regional conference for SSDP. The chapter also held a conference
on Ibogaine, a drug used to treat the withdrawal symptoms of opium.

Conor Horvath, a junior industrial engineering student, said he thinks
Northeastern shouldn't have a drug policy at all.

"I don't really support a drug policy of any sort," he said. "I think if
students are capable of making up their own minds, the school shouldn't
handle any of that, it should be up to the law. It shouldn't be the
school's priority. The school should just concentrate on education and
providing a good, safe environment."