Student Senate recognizes SSDP/NORML, NASO, Young Americans 4 Liberty, Psychology Club

11/6/08 - The Student Senate voted last night to add an eclectic assortment of groups to the University of Rhode Island's roster of official student organizations.The group Students for Sensible Drug Policy/National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (SSDP/NORML) was among those recognized.

SSDP and NORML are national organizations of which the URI group will be a chapter.

SSDP's stated mission is to educate students on the harms of the war on drugs.

NORML's mission, according to its Web site, is to campaign for the repeal of laws against marijuana "so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty."

The group has existed on campus in the past, but lost its senate recognition last year after members lost interest.

Spencer Ginsberg, the club's president and a member of the Student Senate, spoke on the club's behalf.

Ginsberg said the club's goal is to educate the public and the student body on topics of drug policy and reform.

"It's for educational purposes, I'm sure you've all seen the ads on TV about 'smoke marijuana and you'll shoot yourself with a shotgun,'" Ginsberg said. "It's to dispel the myths."

The organization plans to bring in speakers to talk about drug issues, and will continue to sponsor events it has held in the past such as the annual "Hemp Fest," an event intended to encourage open discussion about drugs.

Senator Thomas Sibald, a member of the committee charged with sponsoring new organizations, explained his vote against recognition of the organization.

"I think it's a group that has in the past promoted illicit drug use," Sibald said.

Ginsberg responded that the organization was neutral on the question of illegal drug use.

"As an organization we do not condone or condemn the use of any drugs," Ginsberg said.

As a Level III student organization, SSDP/NORML will be eligible to apply for contingency grants, but will not receive a regular senate budget.

The senate voted unanimously to recognize another group, Young Americans 4 Liberty, also at Level III.

Young Americans 4 Liberty is a national organization affiliated with Sen. Ron Paul (R - Texas), a candidate in Tuesday's presidential election, and will function campus on as a political action group.

Senior Megan Duffield spoke as the group's president.

"The group is going to be representing individual rights and small government and uplifting the constitution," Duffield said.

"[The group will] focus on third party presidential elections ... educate the masses so that next time around we're not just stuck with two choices in the next presidential election," Duffield said.

The Native American Student Organization (NASO) was the third group recognized at Level III.

The group's goal is to promote Native American culture and to advance understanding between native and non-native students.

The group will sponsor events intended to showcase native culture, including dancing and crafts.

"Native people, we are still here today, this is what we do, this is what we practice and this is very important to us," said freshman Leah Hopkins, NASO secretary,

The first organization of the evening to be recognized, the Psychology Club, was approved at Level IV.

The club's goal is to bring together students interested in the field and to create opportunities for students to explore different areas of psychology.

The group will also engage in a variety of philanthropic activities, said the club's president, senior Jenlyn Furey.

Level IV organizations are not eligible for any funding under senate bylaws.

In other news:

The senate voted to grant the URI Fencing club $3,658.20 for new equipment that would allow all members of the club to participate in practices and give the club the ability to hold competitions.

Senator Steven Boiteau was elected to a vacant position on the senate bylaws committee.

The senate approved a grant request from the College Republicans for $1,225 from the senate programming contingency budget. The money will go to bring author and doctor Miriam Grossman to speak at URI. She wrote "Unprotected: A Campus Psychiatrist Reveals How Political Correctness Endangers Every Student."

Officer Mark Chearino of the campus police addressed the senate, praising the student response to Tuesday's presidential election, in what he referred to as the "Running of the Students."

"I just want to commend the students for doing a good job and having a celebratory time," Chearino said.