University of Virginia Library

Whose Interest, Mr. Houchens?

The Madison Lane bust yesterday of a
student for possession of hashish was but a
brief interruption of the torpid atmosphere
now prevalent on the Grounds. While the
arrest was notable for the large amount of
dope seized, and although we are delighted to

be able finally to provide photographs of the
state's elusive travelling narcotics agent, Carl
Deavers, there remain few conclusions one
can reach except: Watch Out.

This is not the time to debate the logic or
illogic which produced laws regarding
personal use of cannabis sativa. Among a vast
majority of today's students the attitude may
be illustrated smartly in the words of Dickens'
immortal Mr. Beadle Bumble, who said, "The
law is a ass, a idiot." And, of course, one
might cite the case of John Sinclair, the White
Panther leader sentenced to ten years in
prison for possessing two joints. "There ain't
no justice," he told the judge at trial's end,
"just the honky power structure."

Nevertheless, whatever one thinks of the
current laws, the plain fact is that larger and
increasingly frequent busts have become the
order of the day in Charlottesville. One factor
which merits attention is the role of the
University Security Department in the new
wave of crackdowns. Official policy does not
exist. By ambiguous arrangement between
local police and security, the University's
police chief, Rea G. Houchens, has been
present on the scene of every University
related drug seizure we can remember. When
asked about his function at such occasions,
Mr. Houchens was quick to state that his
primary motivation is the "protection of the
student's interests."

Were that the case, one could hardly
object to Mr. Houchens — or any University
officer — going along to insure due process
and fair treatment of those so unfortunate as
to be caught holding. Anyone present at the
scene of the crime yesterday, however, could
detect a discrepancy in that position. Mr.
Houchens was observed trading jokes with
Narc Deavers, presumably the latest humor
from the Police Gazette, and at no time did
either the chief or his friend demonstrate
discernible concern for the interest of the
student being placed under arrest.

Clearly, such a tacit arrangement between
Security and other agencies will not do,
especially as the number of arrests appears to
increase weekly. President Shannon seems
obligated to clarify the relationship with an
official statement of University policy. Let us
hope it will be one which serves the students'
best interests.