Students for Sensible Drug Policy involved in more than just reform

Student Group Donates Books to Public Library

Morgantown, WV – The West Virginia University (WVU) chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) donated over 125 books to the Morgantown Public Library on Monday.

The WVU chapter of SSDP initiated a book drive that collected over 125 books to be donated to the library.  Any and all books were welcome in the drive, and the member turnout was great.  The types of books donated ranged from old textbooks and other nonfiction to children’s activity books.

“Everyone really rallied for this cause, and we were able to exceed our expectations in the book drive,” said SSDP member Jhesse Jones.  “Public libraries are a great resource for the community, and it is important to support them any way you can.”

Ellen Hathaway, librarian at the Morgantown Public Library, said “Donations are important because they help the library generate revenue through the book sale.”  The library holds a used book sale every Tuesday from 12:00 PM until 3:00PM.  They encourage the public to come browse the selection and support their local library programs.  The money they make through the book sale goes to anything the library might be in need of.   “We mostly receive donations from private individuals, not organizations,” said Hathaway.

WVU students traditionally are not very involved with the public library, instead choosing to use the University’s libraries.  All WVU students are welcome to use the public library, as well.

SSDP has been active in the community before, sponsoring a Relay for Life team last spring and organizing several trash pick-up days, where members of the organization clean up litter around Morgantown.  The organization hopes to turn their book drive for the Morgantown Public Library into an annual event.

Respecting others’ rights essential to campus smoking policy

By Tomas Engle

Published: Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Updated: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 23:11

Monday night in the Lincoln Hall theater, one of a series of focus group meetings for President James P. Clements’ Task Force for Tobacco Policy took place. For two hours, 14 students representing extended and off-campus housing voiced their opinions on possible changes to the current WVU smoking policy, including a smoke/tobacco ban across both campuses.

The dialogue was civil and fruitful despite the range of opinions, and a common goal was reached in respecting the rights of smokers and non-smokers alike with no one group being favored at the expense of the other.

This series of focus groups will put real power in the hands of the students to solve their own problems by brainstorming with others and coming up with realistic and fair solutions to complex issues facing our campus.

The talk was initiated by moderator and sociology Professor Ronald Althouse with the opening statement, “The point is to lay it (smoking policy) out and openly discuss … an issue that won’t go away.” Dr. Althouse then encouraged the students to state brief initial concerns on the current smoking policy so that the discussion could be properly steered in those directions.

Senior communication studies major Jhesse Jones, started off the discussion by making the point that any total smoking ban across campus would be “unenforceable and unfair.” Sophomore physics major Scott Ferris maintained that the current debate was a “human rights issue,” and that since the University represents all students, it should not benefit some students at the expense of others.

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Design our next t-shirt!

WVU SSDP is making a new shirt and we want YOU to design it!

Prizes:

• Get a FREE shirt if we pick your design
• Get a shirt for half price if your design makes it to the final round

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Student focus group on proposed wvu smoking ban

The smoking ban task force wants your input on the proposed campus-wide smoking ban at WVU.

They are hosting a student focus group to hear how students will be impacted by the university’s policy change.
A campus-wide ban is a major policy change that will impact nearly 30,000 West Virginia University students, smokers and nonsmokers alike. These focus groups are an incredible opportunity for us to speak up and help create the policy that best fits us as a student body.
Each focus group will consist of 12-15 students, with a representative sample of male, and female, on campus and off, smoker and non.

Location: Lincoln Hall Theater, Evansdale campus (right next to Towers)

Time 1: Thursday, November 11 (7:00 – 8:50pm)

Time 2: Monday, November 15 (7:00 – 8:50pm)

Sign up here:

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The Daily Athenaeum – Google high-speed to Morgantown? Maybe

“Two community members are spearheading an initiative to bring Google’s experimental ultra high-speed broadband network to Morgantown.

Google announced plans Feb. 10 to build and test broadband networks in a small number of locations across the United States. The company has issued a Request for Information, asking interested municipalities to provide information about their communities to help determine where to build the network…”

Read more @ The Daily Athenaeum – Google high-speed to Morgantown? Maybe.

Vote for the PIRATE Party for WVU SGA!

Taken from their website…

“The PIRATE Party is committed to reform and opportunity. Reform in the sense that the structure of SGA needs to be changed in order for it to be effective in representing and advocating student issues. Opportunity in the sense that SGA must extend opportunity for every student to be involved and to excel. Together, we can revolutionize how student government operates. This pivotal election will determine how SGA will function for years to come. It is time to open the doors of opportunity and let new ideas in!”

Read more @ http://www.pirates2010.com/

Keepin’ Students Safe With Our Awesome Flyers!

A Good Samaritan Policy at WVU

As we all know, WVU has always maintained an infamous reputation as a “party school,” annually topping the Princeton Review’s list of the top ten party schools in the nation. But this ‘enthusiasm’ can often put students in a dangerous position. Students in need of medical attention due to alcohol or other drug use can face harsh disciplinary actions from the University if their incident is reported. As a result fearful students often forgo necessary medical treatment for themselves or friends, sometimes with deadly consequences.

The introduction of a Good Samaritan Policy (GSP) at WVU would change university policy so that students in need of medical assistance because of alcohol or other drug use, and those attempting to assist, would receive amnesty against disciplinary University sanctions. These sanctions would be replaced with educational or rehabilitation services. The adoption of a GSP at WVU would further encourage a partnership between the university and its students as well as promote personal responsibility and educational attitudes about alcohol and drug use.

In Our First Semester on Campus…

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is a new student organization at West Virginia University. In our first semester as a student organization, we intend to have an impact on several policies involving the students and their rights.

Our second focus this semester will be working to get students to take a more active roll in deciding the policies that will affect them. For example, there is a proposed campus-wide smoking ban that would affect all students, those living on and off campus alike. We feel that this proposal has been pushed through quickly to avoid drawing attention to the massive repercussions it would entail. This proposal is trying to infringe upon the rights of the student body, and if it becomes an adopted policy, it is only a slippery slope to the loss of more individual rights.