STUDENT PROGRAMMING COUNCIL TO HOLD DEBATE ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE

The legalization of marijuana is an issue everyone seems to have a different
stance on.

Some view use of the drug as a basic right, others approve only of medicinal
use and others disapprove the drug on all accounts. These varying
perspectives make debate of the topic much more than a simple issue. Student
Programming Council thinks it is high time the controversy is addressed at
SIUC and is using a debate as a means to do so.

The debate, "Heads vs. Feds," will take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8.
The event, which will take place in Ballroom D of the Student Center, will
feature a face-off between opposing sides of the issue to legalize
marijuana. Steve Hager, editor of High Times magazine, and Robert Stutman, a
Drug Enforcement Administration agent for 25 years, will present opposing
sides of the issue during the 90-minute session.

"I think one of the key aspects of college is free exchange and being able
to discuss ideas, and what better place than a debate," said University
Programming Coordinator Don Castle.

The debate will begin by allowing each speaker 15 minutes to state their
case. Following 30 minutes of opening remarks, the floor will open to
questions, with Hager and Stutman being allotted three minutes each for
responses. After 90 minutes have passed, both will have five minutes to make
their closing statements.

While the event is an open forum, with students permitted to ask any
questions they may have on the issue, there will be a moderator present to
keep the debate on track.

Mark Schneider, an associate professor in sociology, will be in attendance
not only to keep students' questions on track, but also to keep responses on
track as well.

Schneider said he would discourage Hager and Stutman from "telling stories"
and any answers that do not directly answer the questions asked. Schneider
said he expects a good turnout for the event on the controversial issue.

"I think there are hugely important civil liberty issues involved,"
Schneider said. "At the same time, there are problems in our society with
drug use."

Schneider said he believes the attempts to minimize drug use in society have
overpowered a person's basic "right to decide what goes into their own
body."

Schneider said he sees both sides of the issue and encourages focus on the
side that will result in the least amount of overall harm to a person in
general as well as society as a whole.

Steve Annen said he has gotten a great deal of positive response from
students planning to attend the event, which is sponsored by the lectures
committee of SPC.

"It's been great. We had a promotion table, and I've personally heard a lot
of people talking about it," said Annen, a senior in psychology from
Lockport and executive director of SPC. "We try to get different topics
every year. If it does well, it's something we'll look into again."