You say procedure, but it sounds like coercion...
Next Tuesday, March 30th, Former Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson is coming to UNH to speak "on the issues of the day" through his 501(c)4, Our America Initiative (http://ouramericainitiative.com/). This organization allows him to travel the country and speak to a ton of people about his views of the many problems facing the United States these days. A major plank in his platform and contained in "Gary Johnson's 3 point plan for economic prosperity" includes the legalization, regulation and taxation of cannabis (marijuana) and the adoption of harm reduction strategies for other drugs. He believes in liberty, a small government and a free market. Some have been urging Governor Johnson to make a run for the presidency in 2012 and even though he is not legally able to comment on seeking federal office, coming to New Hampshire early is a good move.
The event is sponsored by UNH NORML and Young Americans for Liberty @ UNH and will be held in the Granite State Room in the Memorial Union Building on the University of New Hampshire campus in Durham, NH. Doors open at 6pm. Opening for Gov. Johnson is John Tomassi from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com).
The information I received yesterday concerning the UNH Police Department (always a good time) and police presence at the event startled myself and the other members of NORML and YAL that are planning this event.
The Chief of UNH PD, Paul Dean explained it to me in an email yesterday and over the phone today. You need a permit to hold any event on campus, but as a recognized student org you may schedule internally through the MUB. If the Police Chief or the Department has any "life safety concerns" (the criteria of which is determined by UNH PD) they will require the event sponsor to hire a police officer for the event. Since I was told to provide the administrator of the Police Department with billing information, I soon inquired into the origin of this rule. Unfortunately, the Chief's response to my question left out the reason why UNH NORML and YAL @ UNH now have to pay for a police officer at this event. In my phone conversation with Chief Dean today, he explained to me that this is all "standard" and that I should take the invoice to the SAFC (Student Activity Fee Committee) Office and they'll fill it.
This is all regular operating procedure for the UNH PD but my question is: since the Police Department has required us to have police presence at our event because they have concerns of "life safety" and they decide what concerns of "life safety" are, why is the cost of paying for an officer's shift now on the shoulders of the tuition-paying students of UNH?
What the UNH PD is telling us is that whenever they deem it necessary, we've gotta pay them or we lose the event. Aside from the possibility that this tactic can be included in the definition of embezzlement, extortion and money laundering, it allows the UNH Police Department to take a cut from the Student Activity Fee whenever an event is held on campus, regardless to whether police are actually needed. They've got a budget too, you know! Segways and scary cars aren't cheap. King George III would be so proud.
No Taxation Without Representation!
Thanks for reading,
Nick
SAFC Definition: Each student pays the Student Activity Fee (currently $92 for every full-time undergrad, of whom there are 10,769) included in tuition for the year; it funds various events and projects of every student org at UNH. The Student Activity Fee Committee is an arm of the Student Senate that appropriates the money.
The event is sponsored by UNH NORML and Young Americans for Liberty @ UNH and will be held in the Granite State Room in the Memorial Union Building on the University of New Hampshire campus in Durham, NH. Doors open at 6pm. Opening for Gov. Johnson is John Tomassi from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com).
The information I received yesterday concerning the UNH Police Department (always a good time) and police presence at the event startled myself and the other members of NORML and YAL that are planning this event.
The Chief of UNH PD, Paul Dean explained it to me in an email yesterday and over the phone today. You need a permit to hold any event on campus, but as a recognized student org you may schedule internally through the MUB. If the Police Chief or the Department has any "life safety concerns" (the criteria of which is determined by UNH PD) they will require the event sponsor to hire a police officer for the event. Since I was told to provide the administrator of the Police Department with billing information, I soon inquired into the origin of this rule. Unfortunately, the Chief's response to my question left out the reason why UNH NORML and YAL @ UNH now have to pay for a police officer at this event. In my phone conversation with Chief Dean today, he explained to me that this is all "standard" and that I should take the invoice to the SAFC (Student Activity Fee Committee) Office and they'll fill it.
This is all regular operating procedure for the UNH PD but my question is: since the Police Department has required us to have police presence at our event because they have concerns of "life safety" and they decide what concerns of "life safety" are, why is the cost of paying for an officer's shift now on the shoulders of the tuition-paying students of UNH?
What the UNH PD is telling us is that whenever they deem it necessary, we've gotta pay them or we lose the event. Aside from the possibility that this tactic can be included in the definition of embezzlement, extortion and money laundering, it allows the UNH Police Department to take a cut from the Student Activity Fee whenever an event is held on campus, regardless to whether police are actually needed. They've got a budget too, you know! Segways and scary cars aren't cheap. King George III would be so proud.
No Taxation Without Representation!
Thanks for reading,
Nick
SAFC Definition: Each student pays the Student Activity Fee (currently $92 for every full-time undergrad, of whom there are 10,769) included in tuition for the year; it funds various events and projects of every student org at UNH. The Student Activity Fee Committee is an arm of the Student Senate that appropriates the money.
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