LET'S ADMIT IT. THE GOOD FIVE CENT CIGAR IS NOT PERFECT.

But how can we expect it to be? Its staff is composed of
hard-working, full-time college students, living on tight deadlines
and meager stipends. For providing such an invaluable service to our
community, the staff members of the Cigar deserve far more credit and
compensation than they current get. They also deserve our
understanding when their articles don't reach the highest echelons of
journalistic excellence.

This is why I was not shocked and appalled when the Cigar reported
earlier this week that LSD is primarily used as a date rape drug, it
is most popular between the ages of 12-25, and its sole source is the
Hells Angels ("Retired investigator says heroin, LSD use growing in
popularity", 2/7/06). These claims, made by retired investigator Gino
Rebussini, range from exaggerations to blatant fabrications. Had the
reporter had the time and resources to investigate this, Rebussini
would not have been able to spread misinformation so easily. But we
know the Cigar is doing the best with what they've got.

Journalistic integrity, however, is not as optional as journalistic
excellence. So when a reporter intentionally misrepresented my stance
to further his own agenda in yesterday's Cigar, I was shocked and
appalled indeed.

Anthony Maselli came to me last week looking for confirmation of his
suspicion that President Carothers' intention in softening the campus
marijuana policy was simply to boost the university's image by
yielding fewer arrests. While I admitted that I could not be certain
of the Carothers' intention (since I had not yet spoken to him about
the issue), I noted that his past actions would not lead me to
believe that this was the case. The following quote - part of an
e-mail interview with Anthony - sums up the view that Students for
Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and I hold:

"For years, President Carothers has worked alongside SSDP in our
efforts to repeal the law that denies federal financial aid to people
with drug convictions. I cannot be certain of his intentions this
time around, but he has often expressed a willingness to keep
students out of the criminal justice system and in school. In any
case, the actual effect of this policy is much more important than
the intentions behind it. If this policy results in a decline in
student arrests, that is an image the university can rightly be proud of.

However, there are several images that the university cannot rightly
be proud of. A "scarlet letter" taped to a student's door in
Narragansett. A dismayed student looking on as his dorm room is
searched without his consent. These are not images to be proud of.

But - oddly enough - I can be pretty sure that President Carothers'
intentions are pure, even while supporting the policies that create
these demoralizing situations. Just as - oddly enough - I suspect
that Anthony Maselli's heart was in the right place even as he
injected his own bias into a supposedly unbiased news article.

But good intentions only go so far when good actions are left behind.

Yesterday, I received a personal apology from Anthony, which I now
publicly accept. I forgive you.

In the same way, it is my hope that SSDP and I will work alongside
President Carothers and that he will come to realize that imposing
harsh, invasive disciplinary policies has done more harm than good to
this university. Perhaps he will even work with SSDP to sculpt
sensible campus policies for alcohol and other drugs - policies that
respect a student's autonomy and privacy, while also helping that
student when he or she is in trouble. Rhody Rides is an excellent first step.

For students interested in working with SSDP on these issues, we
invite you to an event, co-sponsored by Students for Social Change,
called "Dinner, Dessert, and Dissent." It will be held in the Union
193 Coffeehouse, today from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. As the event title
suggests, you will be well fed.

Sincerely,

Micah Daigle

URI Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Editor's Note: The Cigar offers an apology to Micah Daigle, President
Carothers and other members of the administration for the clear bias
in Maselli's story.