University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Reader Disagrees With 'Jim'

Please Tell "Jim" (CD, Nov.
28) that, contrary to his assertion,
Princeton does not treat the
use of marijuana as "no big thing."
Last year an undergraduate committee,
in consultation with medical
and social advisors, undertook
the production and publication of
an extensive pamphlet revealing
facts and the more authoritative
opinions concerning the effects
of marijuana and hallucinogenic
drugs. The pamphlet, released this
fall, has been well received at
Princeton and other campuses.

Dr. Timothy Leary was invited
and participated in a panel debate
with researchers from the New
Jersey Neuropsychiatric Institute
in an open forum for all students
last spring. University medical and
non-medical counselors openly encourage
those who use or consider
using such drugs to discuss
the matter, both academically and
emotionally, in light of the known
and suspected effects. Those students
becoming involved with legal
authorities as a result of possession,
use, or sale of marijuana or other
drugs are dealt with by the Administration
accordingly.

Thus, while there is a minimum
of hair-tearing and hand-wringing
because of the (limited) use
of and experimentation with drugs
on campus, the practice is definitely
not condoned or even passively
tolerated, as "Jim" implies.
Rather, a conscientious effort is
made by the entire Princeton community
to face facts, and educate
the students as to what they may
be doing to themselves and those
around them.

The concern of the University
in this regard stems from two
primary sources: 1) a deeply vested
interest in the general welfare of all
its students, and 2) a responsibility
to itself (for the sake of its prospective
future students) to uphold
a reputation compatible with
the predominant ideals of a society
with which we all unfortunately
must cope. Sorry 'bout that,
"Jim."