PRO-MARIJUANA ORG. ASKS GREEK SYSTEM FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT

The national non-profit organization, Marijuana Policy Project, is
asking fraternities and sororities at UW-Madison and other
universities to raise money and awareness for its mission to make
marijuana legal.

Similar to other non-profits, like the American Cancer Society, the
MPP has its own tax-deductible code for educational organizations.
This makes it possible for groups such as fraternities and sororities
to raise money for its causes.

MPP mailed out information about its organization to over 2,220 Greek
houses for universities in every state, including University of
California-Berkeley and Cornell University. These mailings included 20
UW-Madison fraternities and sororities, including Gamma Phi Beta and
Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

"Basically, we are mailing to everybody that we could locate. We have
the most comprehensive list of fraternities and sororities available,"
said Bruce Mirken, MPP's director of communications.

The MPP chose to market to the Greek system because fraternities and
sororities are large philanthropic groups easily able to arrange
charity events, Mirken said.

Money raised from Greek philanthropy would go to fund campaigns like
MPP's current fight for medical marijuana legalization in Wisconsin.
MPP successfully managed a similar campaign in Montana last November.

"If you rape somebody, you don't lose your student loan, but if you're
caught with one joint in your dorm room, you do. Tell me in what
alternative universe that makes sense? It's absolutely outrageous,"
Mirken said.

The mailings have not yet reached the UW-Madison campus. However,
those involved in the Greek system do not anticipate a warm response
to MPP's request because of the political connection the MPP holds.

"It's not that we should be apathetic about political views, but this
is something that you should support as an individual," said Drew
Eshweiler, Interfraternity Council president and UW-Madison senior.
"To tie it to a fraternity or sorority is improper use of your Greek
organization."

Having a politically minded philanthropy is difficult to put in place
in a fraternity or sorority, where members have diverse political beliefs.

"Our Greek communities have national philanthropies and are for the
betterment of society. There are so many different value systems
within a Greek system. Some chapters may shy away from a political
stance like this because a cause like it might not represent the views
of all members of the chapter," said UW-Madison fraternity and
sorority program advisor Barb Kautz.

"Fraternities and sororities are about brotherhood and sisterhood.
They're not about political action, I feel. I think it's just stepping
over some boundaries," Eschweiler said.