STUDENTS TO RALLY AGAINST DRUG POLICY

The first campus rally of the spring is set for today, with students
threatening an eventual sleep-in at the college president's office to
protest his policy toward illegal drug violations.

Student leaders want SUNY New Paltz President Steve Poskanzer to enact a
moratorium on the mandatory expulsion of students who have been accused of
two marijuana offenses.

Justin Holmes, the president of the student government, said the rally is
the culmination of longstanding opposition to the mandatory expulsions.

"No other SUNY state college is so draconian in its policies," he said.
Students caught using marijuana or with drug equipment are automatically
expelled after two such incidents without legal or in-house review, he
said. Expulsion is quicker for incidents involving other controlled
substances, one time and you're out.

The conflict doesn't appear to be headed for quick resolution.

College spokesman Eric Gullickson said yesterday the college was satisfied
that its policies were fair and that they contributed to a healthy campus
environment.

"What we want is a drug-free environment, not a free-drug environment," he said.