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University of Texas students have approved a referendum supporting decreased university-imposed penalties for marijuana.
Results from the student government vote held Tuesday and Wednesday also showed that most students endorsed plans for a new student activity center and chose Danielle Rugoff, a senior government major, to be next year's student government president.
The Student Activity Center is expected to cost students no more than $65 a semester in fees after its completion in 2010.
The marijuana referendum is not binding and asks that Student Judicial Services' penalties for its use or possession be reduced to the same penalties for on-campus alcohol use or possession.
UT's penalties for first-time alcohol offenses range from a warning to disciplinary probation, but the sanctions for marijuana can range from disciplinary probation to suspension, a spokeswoman for Student Judicial Services said.
"By having stricter penalties, I think that many of us feel UT is just promoting alcohol use due to the fact that they are harsher punishments for marijuana," said Judie Niskala, the UT Campus Coordinator for SAFER Texas, which stands for the Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation. She also leads Texas NORML, another group working to decriminalize the drug.
Niskala said the group discussed a referendum after meeting with students who had success with referendums at other campuses, such as the University of Colorado. The December death of a UT freshman from alcohol poisoning galvanized the movement, she said.
UT has worked to make the punishments for marijuana use and possession more flexible, Associate Dean of Students Sherri Sanders said.
This is the first year a marijuana offense on campus hasn't resulted in automatic suspension, but students who use or possess marijuana in the dorms are still kicked out of university student housing.
"We're feeling pretty good about where we are right now," Sanders said, adding that she doubts UT's policy will change. "As a state institution . . . I think it would be pretty unlikely that we would take a different approach or stance from how our state approaches the issue."
Vote results
Student government president
Danielle Rugoff, winner with 54.19 percent of the vote
Total votes: 6,853
Vice president
Marcus Ceniceros, winner with 56.41 percent of the vote
Total votes: 6,479
Daily Texan editor
J.J. Hermes, winner with 53.23 percent of the vote
Total votes: 4,578
Referendum 1
New campus Student Activity Center
For: 67.72 percent
Against: 32.27 percent
Total votes: 7, 770
Referendum 2
Reduce university-imposed penalties for use and possession of marijuana to those currently imposed for use and possession of alcohol.
For: 64.45 percent
Against: 35.54 percent
Total votes: 7,574
MAP posted-by: Jo-D
Pubdate: Thu, 02 Mar 2006
Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX)
Copyright: 2006 Austin American-Statesman
Contact: letters@statesman.com
Website: Austin American-Statesman | statesman.com
Details: MapInc
Author: Laura Heinauer, Joshunda Sanders
Bookmark: MapInc
Results from the student government vote held Tuesday and Wednesday also showed that most students endorsed plans for a new student activity center and chose Danielle Rugoff, a senior government major, to be next year's student government president.
The Student Activity Center is expected to cost students no more than $65 a semester in fees after its completion in 2010.
The marijuana referendum is not binding and asks that Student Judicial Services' penalties for its use or possession be reduced to the same penalties for on-campus alcohol use or possession.
UT's penalties for first-time alcohol offenses range from a warning to disciplinary probation, but the sanctions for marijuana can range from disciplinary probation to suspension, a spokeswoman for Student Judicial Services said.
"By having stricter penalties, I think that many of us feel UT is just promoting alcohol use due to the fact that they are harsher punishments for marijuana," said Judie Niskala, the UT Campus Coordinator for SAFER Texas, which stands for the Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation. She also leads Texas NORML, another group working to decriminalize the drug.
Niskala said the group discussed a referendum after meeting with students who had success with referendums at other campuses, such as the University of Colorado. The December death of a UT freshman from alcohol poisoning galvanized the movement, she said.
UT has worked to make the punishments for marijuana use and possession more flexible, Associate Dean of Students Sherri Sanders said.
This is the first year a marijuana offense on campus hasn't resulted in automatic suspension, but students who use or possess marijuana in the dorms are still kicked out of university student housing.
"We're feeling pretty good about where we are right now," Sanders said, adding that she doubts UT's policy will change. "As a state institution . . . I think it would be pretty unlikely that we would take a different approach or stance from how our state approaches the issue."
Vote results
Student government president
Danielle Rugoff, winner with 54.19 percent of the vote
Total votes: 6,853
Vice president
Marcus Ceniceros, winner with 56.41 percent of the vote
Total votes: 6,479
Daily Texan editor
J.J. Hermes, winner with 53.23 percent of the vote
Total votes: 4,578
Referendum 1
New campus Student Activity Center
For: 67.72 percent
Against: 32.27 percent
Total votes: 7, 770
Referendum 2
Reduce university-imposed penalties for use and possession of marijuana to those currently imposed for use and possession of alcohol.
For: 64.45 percent
Against: 35.54 percent
Total votes: 7,574
MAP posted-by: Jo-D
Pubdate: Thu, 02 Mar 2006
Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX)
Copyright: 2006 Austin American-Statesman
Contact: letters@statesman.com
Website: Austin American-Statesman | statesman.com
Details: MapInc
Author: Laura Heinauer, Joshunda Sanders
Bookmark: MapInc
