MARIJUANA DEBATE TO BRING NEW BUZZ TO CAMPUS

Heads Vs. Feds To Put Different Spin On Marijuana Debate

It is on T-shirts, key chains, magnets and the minds of people across the
nation.

Steven Hager and Robert Stutman hope to place it back on the hot topic
platter by bringing a new buzz to the old debate of marijuana legalization
tonight.

Heads vs. Feds, an unconventional way of debating the marijuana debate,
will visit the University at 7:30 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Plaza. The
event is sponsored by University Programs.

"Most of the debate is audience questions and the presentation of both
sides of the story, using facts and articles to back it up," said Park
Miller, speakers director for University Programs. "The part that's
interesting is you never know what somebody is going to ask and they never
know what somebody is going to ask. It's interesting to see how the
audience will respond."

Heads vs. Feds will feature qualified speakers -- Hager and Stutman -- from
each side of the debate.

Hager has been editor-in-chief of High Times magazine since 1988. His goal
is to "establish the counterculture as a legitimate minority group whose
basic rights of freedom of religion and pursuit of happiness have been
declined," the Wolfman Productions Web site says.

Stutman made a career of high-profile drug busting for 25 years in which
about 5,000 investigations led to more than 15,000 arrests, according to
the Web site. Stutman "has received numerous awards from law enforcement
agencies throughout the country," it says.

Greg Bura, an agent for Wolfman Productions, a Connecticut-based
organization that brings together speakers, debates and performing artists,
said the intention was to bring together two people who could represent
each side fairly. The trouble then was finding two passionate people
willing to work and travel together.

"That was one of our fears in the very beginning, and they didn't [like
each other] at first," said Bura. "Over time they have become great
friends, and I think that is what some students take out of this because
they see them going at it and arguing and turning red with their veins
popping but at the end of the program they shake hands and it's a lesson of
learning to disagree."

Another lesson may be that discussion can lead to a change of opinion,
Miller said.

"I would wager that the majority of students and people in general have
very strong feelings about this," Miller said. "Whether you feel one way or
the other it's a very impartial debate ... and you never know, maybe your
opinion will be changed."

Heads vs. Feds is a free event open to students, faculty and the community.
Miller said the event is expected to last an hour and 45 minutes at the
most. After the debate, there will be a meet-and-greet where audience
members will have the option to take pictures with or get autographs from
the two speakers.

In case of inclement weather, Heads vs. Feds will be moved into the
Ferguson Center Theater. For more information, call UP at 348-7525.