NEW STUDENT GROUP ACTIVELY OPPOSES WAR ON DRUGS

After growing frustrated with current drug policies, University freshman
Carsten Singh decided to find his own solution.

It came in the form of starting a new student organization -- Students for
Sensible Drug Policy.

SSDP, a Washington, D.C., based organization with chapters at colleges and
universities around the nation, provides education on what its members
believe to be the harms caused by the War on Drugs.

The group involves youth in the political process and promotes an open,
honest and rational discussion of alternative solutions to national drug
policies, according to its Web site (www.ssdp.com).

Although SSDP "neither encourages nor condemns drug use," it "focuses on
drug issues with the greatest impact on young and underrepresented
communities," according to the Web site.

Information distribution will be the main focus of SSDP at the University
when activities commence later this semester.

"Our main goal is increasing student and faculty awareness of harsh drug
laws and the ineffectiveness of the government's war on drugs," said Singh,
a freshman from Conyers. "Current drug policy is causing more problems than
alternative policies which have the potential to reduce damage done on
individuals and society."

He said he plans to focus on problems affecting college students such as
the drug penalties of the Higher Education Act, which he feels
disproportionately affect blacks -- a group with higher rates of drug
conviction -- by denying financial aid to applicants with drug offenses.

Singh also added he hopes SSDP will have a positive relationship with the
University administration.

Two studies, the 2001 Core Survey and the 2002 First-Year Student
Orientation Survey at the University, demonstrate the relevance of drugs on
campus.

The results of the surveys show 77.5 percent of University students
consumed alcohol, tobacco or other drugs within the last 30 days.

More than one in four of those surveyed had tried marijuana within a year
of entering the University.

Singh said he will give extra attention to marijuana use; he said he sees
current laws and policies as wasteful, ineffective and even cruel in the
case of patients with terminal illnesses being denied medical marijuana to
ease their pain.

Students interested in the organization should look for information around
campus. Activities will start around the end of February.

Some ideas for events include a "Hookah-Fest" and a film festival featuring
movies related to drugs.

"We are a political organization; our effectiveness will require both
organization and numbers," Singh said.