Western Front - 2006 April 21

              • ?
STUDENT POETS CLASH ON A l l HOCKEY TABLE MONDAY NIGHTS, PAH .2
THE WESTERN»FRONT
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2006 ISSUE 7, VOLUME 137
Campus goes up in smoke
Six-foot pipe replica
sparks discussion
BY BECKIE ROSILLO
The Western Front
Members of the WWU
Libertarians club assembled a six-foot-
tall replica of a bong pipe
in Red Square to advocate the
decriminalization of marijuana
Thursday.
Club members filled the replica
with 15 pounds of dry ice and
warm water, causing large puffs of
smoke to billow from the top of it.
They also baked 120 brownies
to attract students to discuss the war
on drugs, said Western freshman
Zack Elan, club vice chair.
Students passing by spoke with
club advisor and Western lecturer
Bruce Guthrie, Washington state's
2006 Libertarian nominee for the
U.S. Senate elections.
Guthrie said the United States
government's war on- druggMSJs
ineffective and impedes civil
liberties because drug possession
is now such a difficult crime to
prosecute.
"The war on drugs isn't
working," Guthrie said. "Because if
you want drugs, you can get them."
Western senior Ryan Huyck
said the war on drugs is failing but
doesn't think decriminalization is
a solution.
Decriminalizing marijuana
would only lead citizens to
legalize other drugs, he said. This
could negatively affect society
because some citizens can become
dangerous under the influence
of drugs such as speed and
methamphetamine, Hyuck said.
Western freshmen Shayla
Shearer and Natalie Schmidt wore
shirts they designed that read
"420, my earth day" on the front
and "I study the environment" on
the back.
Schmidt said she and Shearer
didn't intend to upset anyone
withtheir shirts, decorated with
rhinestones and fake marijuana
see MARIJUANA, page 6
WWU Libertarian club chair and Western freshman Alex Mitchell looks on as the club's six-foot
bong pipe replica emits steam. Club vice chair and Western freshman Zack Elan, who
helped construct the pipe, poured dry ice into the warm water the pipe contained.
Hip-hop team back in style
JEFFREY LUXMORE / THE WESTERN FRONT
Western hip-hop team members sophomore Jeni Keller,
freshman Cara Alboucq and sophomore Kina Beaudry
practice Feb. 27 in one of the Wade King Student Recre­ation
Center's dance studios. The team will perform at 8
p.m. Saturday in the Performing Arts Center.
BY ANDREW LAWRENCE
The Western Front
Western's hip-hop dance team has been waiting
for an opportunity like this for more than a year.
The team will perform on campus Saturday for
the first time since February 2005. The show will
be in the Performing Arts Center.
The athletic department banned them from
performing at basketball games after receiving
complaints from students and Bellingham
community members about the sexual nature
of the team's performance, director of athletic
marketing Steve Brummel said.
"We just want to perform," Western junior
and co-captain Julie Raymond said. "This whole
situation has made us feel like our school doesn't
want us."
Because they didn't have the opportunity
to dance at basketball games this season, the
team found other ways to perform for Western
students, Western sophomore and co-captain Aja
Dale said. . . :
The team's last performance was on March 3
at Downtown Johnny's Restaurant and Nightclub.
see DANCE, page 6
AS Board debate
sets election tone
BY JEFFREY LUXMORE
The Western Front
Candidates nmning for Associated Students board
of directors positions debated on campus twice this
week, offering students an opportunity to learn more
about campaign issues. ~
The candidates debated in Miller Hall Tuesday
night and in the Communications Facility last night.
Approximately 25 students attended the first panel
of debates on Tuesday. Six candidates were on the first
panel, and the remaining four debated approximately
an hour later ifi the second panel.
The candidates discussed tuition, campus food,
transportation and student participation in the AS.
Western juniors yBrett^^ Kalb are
runnmg for me AS vjce. president for business and
operations position. They (discussed, how to expand
food choices on campus; by including products from
local farmers.
Kalb said he would push for more vegan and
vegetarian food options on campus. Jordan said giving
students a voice with Sodexho USA, the campus food
see CAMPAIGN, page 6
DANCE PARTY
United State of
Electronica will rock
Western students tonight.
ACCENT, PAGE 7
SOCCER SURVIVORS
Men's and women's soccer teams
adapt to position changes in strong
performances Saturday.
SPORTS, PAGE 10
PRUDENT BOOZING
How to stay off the floor. Helpful
pointers about how to
survive a 21 run.
OPINIONS, PAGE 14
WEATHER
Saturday: Sunny
Hi: 60 Low: 36
Sunday: Sunny
Hi: 64 Low: 42
www.westernfrontonline.com