ANNUAL HASH WEDNESDAY TAKES TO QUAD

Several student groups plan to hash out marijuana issues on the Quad today.

Today is "Hash Wednesday," an annual protest of the illegality of marijuana
in the United States. Speakers, skits, bongo drummers and a "Hemp Fashion
Show" will be some of the events from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m on the north side of
the Quad.

This is the first year that three new drug law reform groups on campus will
participate: Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Legalize It.

"Traditionally, in the '70s, it was just a big smoking day," said Danielle
Schumacher, president of the University chapters of SSDP and NORML. "We're
trying to make it more serious."

For the past five years the University ACLU has sponsored the event, but
several groups were added as co-sponsors this year, said Kevin Miller,
co-president of the University ACLU.

While in the past the event has focused broadly on civil rights, this year
it will focus exclusively on drug legalization, Schumacher said.

The groups want people "to realize that government prohibition of drugs,
but especially marijuana, causes more harm than it cures," Miller said.

Schumacher began the University chapters of SSDP and NORML in November. She
said she wanted to educate people on human rights violations that occur
while the United States fights the "drug war" and the amount of money the
government spends punishing drug dealers and users.

Kate Stepanski began the Legalize It group this semester. She said she
thinks many students on campus use drugs, but are underrepresented in terms
of registered organizations.

"If you walked around the Quad on Quad Day, there weren't a lot of groups
that dealt with drug use," she said.

Her group pushes for the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana in
the United States.

"It shouldn't be something that's hidden," she said. "If it was more out in
the open, people would be more responsible about it."

The groups do not support people bringing marijuana to the event,
Schumacher said.

"In general, the people get arrested because they're stupid and bring drugs
to the Quad," she said.

There will be people around all day to discuss drug issues with anyone
interested, she said.

"We just want people to be educated on drugs," she said.

The groups will be circulating a petition in favor of U.S. House Resolution
685, which would revoke the "drug provision" of the Higher Education Act of
1998. The act states that a student who has been convicted of "possession
or sale of a controlled substance" will be ineligible for federal grants,
loans or work assistance.

The bill was introduced on Feb. 11 and was referred to a House subcommittee
March 3.