University of Virginia Library

Debate On Drugs

Conference Planned

By Chuck Hite
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Unlike past years, University
students will have an opportunity
to discuss, debate, and hear experts
speak on the use and abuse of drugs
on the college campus. The chance
will come this November as plans
for a Student Council sponsored
drug conference near completion.

The conference is tentatively
scheduled for the weekend of
November 9. Delegates from other
universities and colleges in Virginia
will be invited to attend, but the
primary purpose of the conference
is to give all University students a
well-balanced educational look at
the facts and myths behind the
drug issue.

Speakers from several areas are
expected to participate in the
conference: Dr. John Buckman of
the University hospital will
represent the field of psychiatry:
Dr. Ned Polsky from the State
University of New York at Stony
Brook will discuss the sociological
implications of student drug use;
Dr. Walter Pahnke, author of LSD
and Religious Experience would
represent the religious side. There
will also be representatives from the
Federal Bureau of Narcotics,
professors from the University
Medical School doing research on
the chromosomal effects of certain
drugs, a lawyer and a former
narcotics agent.

Student Council initiated plans
for drug education last spring and
later established a special
committee to organize a
conference. The action was taken
after lengthy debate over a motion
by Councilman Jacques Jones to
express the Council's dissatisfaction
with and urge a re-evaluation of the
administration's marijuana policy.
Mr. Jones contended that the stand
taken in an administration letter
sent to students during the summer
of 1967 was erroneous or misleading
on several points. He was
particularly concerned that the
only two drugs mentioned, LSD
and marijuana, were lumped
together indiscriminately and over
the claim that students using such
drugs were not academically
motivated.

After several weeks of study the
Council unanimously passed a
motion urging "the Dean of the
University to re-evaluate University
policy with respect to
hallucinogenic drugs as expressed in
his letter dated Summer, 1967."

One summer and a new dean
later, another letter was sent out,
this time to first-year students only.
The changes are significant There is
an attempt to be medically
accurate. The second paragraph of
D. Alan Williams' letter states:
"The use of hallucinogenic drugs
including marijuana, is often
followed by serious mental
reactions that in some instances
may be severe, prolonged, and in
the case of the synthetic agents,
even permanent."

The new Dean of Student
Affairs is also very frank ("the
University does not and cannot
condone the illegal use,
manufacture or sale of drugs by
students") and he gives credence
that students do have common
sense (he "expects University
students to have the intelligence
and sense of responsibility to
refrain from actions which may be
damaging to themselves. . .or are
contrary to the law regardless of
whether or not the student agrees
with the law.")

Dean Williams states that his
major concern is over the strong
legal repercussions "for use of
hallucinogenic drugs especially in
terms of what it might mean to a
student's professional career."

University action following
student use or involvement with
drugs "is in line with many other
universities" according to Dean
Williams. The 1968 letter states that
these students "may be subject to
suspension or may be given the
opportunity to withdraw."