University of Virginia Library

Council Votes Down
Voicing Opposition
To Marijuana Policy

By Rod MacDonald
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Disagreeing with Councilman
Jacques Jones, the Student Council
last night defeated a motion to
"express the Council's dissatisfaction
with and urge a public reevaluation
of the administration's
marijuana policy."

At the same time, Mr. Jones
succeeded in getting two motions
passed that the University administration
make known its position
regarding the cancellation of
graduate draft deferments, and that
the Council compile and publish
a list of counselling services and
options available to students under
the Selective Service Act.

On Marijuana Rule

Mr. Jones supported his motion
regarding the University's anti-marijuana
stand by saying "This
rule would only apply to marijuana.
Medical journals give much
evidence that the anti-marijuana
statutes are absurd. The law itself
is ridiculous and the University
should not be actively enforcing it.

"I disagree with Dean Runk's
argument that any student who
uses marijuana is not academically
motivated-many students could
simply point to their grade-point
average to prove it." he went on.

Frank Homer added "It's a
good idea-I'd like to see what
the administration's policy is."
However, I think we should put
specific proposals in writing and
not merely express our displeasure
in a way that will have no impact."

'Not Our Place'

Beverly Crump objected, however,
that "while the marijuana statutes
may not be the best, I don't
believe it's the Student Council's
place to go on record as advocating
the disobeying of a federal
law."

The question was called, and the
motion defeated with affirmative
votes cast only by Mr. Jones and
Pieter Schenkkan.

Mr. Schenkkan then moved that
"the Student Council empower
Mr. Jones, in the Council's name,
to conduct a study of the University's
policy regarding marijuana
and submit recommendations
for the Council to consider."

"This study would not imply
that the Council opposes University
policy, just that that policy
is a matter of concern to many
students."

The motion was passed unanimously.

After the meeting, Mr. Jones
said "Our purposes for the study
will be to clarify the University's
position-do they aid federal narcotics
agents? And where does the
Department of Security stand?
These are all vital questions to the
student body."

Public Statement

Mr. Jones' second motion that
"The Student Council request the
administration to make public its
position with regard to recent
changes in the policy regarding
graduate deferments, and what action
has been taken to communicate
those feelings to government
officials" was adopted unanimously.

Parker Brown asked whether
President Shannon, through the
education associations to which the
University belongs, had not already
done so.

No Action Yet

Mr. Schenkkan replied that
"The new policy is so recent that
no action has been taken, at least,
no public statement. But we can
satisfy the students that something
is being done."

A subsequent motion to have
the Council "sponsor a discussion
or series of discussions concerning
the Selective Service System"
was withdrawn to allow a
study of feasible means to be made.

Mr. Jones' third motion regarding
the draft was to compile data
on counselling services and options
available to students under the
Selective Service system and
publish it.

See Options

Alan Rudlin seconded the
motion, saying "It's an excellent
idea. It would provide students
with a sure way of investigating
their chances for deferments and
the possibilities open to them."

The motion passed by a voice
vote, with Mr. Crump and Mr.
Brown dissenting.

In other business, Gordon Calvert
moved that the Council adopt
a letter to be sent to President
Shannon urging "the establishment
of a residential system at
the University as soon as adequate
funds permit it."

Richard Snyder of the Alderman
Road Committee addressed the
Council, saying "The aim of such
a system is to promote academic
affairs in an atmosphere of closeness
not allowed under the present
dormitory-fraternity system. Students
would live with faculty members
in buildings that include dining
facilities and classrooms, as well as
libraries and tutorial rooms."

Study Asked

George McMillan suggested that
a study be made by the Master
Plan Committee to report and
draw a more substantial resolution.

Mr. Calvert objected, however,
that "The motion should be passed
now so that supporting evidence
may later be offered."

The motion was passed unanimously.