SSDP

Busted.

That's what can happen to citizens who don't know their constitutional
rights, and Missouri Southern's chapter of Students for a Sensible
Drug Policy and the College Democrats are hoping to change that.

At 7 p.m., April 30 in Webster Hall auditorium the groups will show an
informative video on "the citizens guide to surviving police
encounters." They will also host local attorney Mitch Cross for a
question and answer session on citizen's rights with police.

"Whenever a kid says 'I know my rights' you can bet he is saying that
to compensate for the fact that he doesn't know his rights," said Kyle
Tucker, instructor of English and adviser to SSDP.

The free video showing will cover citizen's rights regarding car stops
and home searches among others.

"I hope [students] will gain an understanding of how the police force
works and how to protect themselves and their property," said Kelly
Maddy, founder of SSDP.

The group believes knowledge of constitutional rights is especially
important now that so few people really know what they are entitled
to.

"Hopefully [students] will see the need for people to understand about
their basic rights, especially since they've eroded over the past
years," Maddy said.

Members acknowledge the importance of law enforcement, however they
believe that private citizens are uninformed about their guaranteed
rights regarding questioning and police searches.

"The purpose of the event is the same purpose as college itself; to
educate people; to present information so people can make informed
decisions." Tucker said, "The event is designed to fill an information
gap."

Some have already raised a silent opposition to the presentation by
removing the group's posters from campus bulletin boards.

"If people object to the event what are they really saying; that
people shouldn't have access to their rights?" Tucker said, "Nothing
could be more insulting - and dangerous - than denying someone their
rights."