Cops and Campuses Against Cartels

Last year over 50 SSDP chapters participated in our national day of action on Cinco de Mayo by drawing attention to the drug war violence occurring in Mexico. We protested the fact that in just over one year, more than 7,500 people had been killed in Mexico. Needless to say, prohibition hasn't gone away and today, more than 18,000 people have been murdered in Mexico.

So SSDP will be organizing a 2010 Day of Action and we hope that even more SSDP chapters will participate and our voices will be louder than last year. Go to http://www.ssdp.org/cincodemayo for more information.

SSDP chapters will be drawing attention to this issue by doing things like:

• Demonstrating on campus with Mexican flags or balloons
• Hosting a speaker from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
• Handing out informational flyers
• Collecting petition signatures at EndDrugProhibition.com   

Excited? Get started!

Signup!
Get your chapter signed up to participate in the day of action ASAP! http://www.ssdp.org/cincodemayo/signup

Check Out the Resources
Here's a page of resources that you can download and use:http://www.ssdp.org/cincodemayo/resources
The page includes an editable press release that you can send to local news outlets, Mexican flags you can print out, an action plan, and more to come soon.

Sign the Petition During your demonstration you can set up a laptop and get people to sign the petition.
http://www.EndDrugProhibition.com

Facebook
Here's the Facebook event. RSVP and invite your friends!
http://www.ssdp.org/facebook/cincodemayo

There's more to come very soon...

SSDP and SAFER Day of Action

On April 1, SSDP chapters all over the country participated in the SAFER National Day of Action by sparking debate on their campuses about marijuana legalization and promoting the Emerald Initiative. The Emerald Initiative is SAFER’s response to the Amethyst Initiative, a call by more than 130 university presidents and chancellors to debate whether lowering the legal drinking age to 18 could reduce dangerous college drinking. It calls on college presidents and chancellors – particularly those who have signed on to the Amethyst Initiative and those at schools where SAFER Referendums have been adopted – to "support an informed and dispassionate public debate" on whether allowing college students to use marijuana more freely could result in fewer students engaging in dangerous drinking.

Check out some of the media coverage of SSDP chapters in action: 

Washington Post
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee
University of Vermont
Front Range Community College
University of Virginia
University of Oregon - Eugene 
University of Kansas

Some chapters were unable to participate because of Spring Break but are planning to join the effort this Thursday, April 8. If your chapter would like to participate please sign up. 

SAFER Day of Action: April 1, 2010

On April 1st -- the first day of National Alcohol Awareness Month -- the SAFER Campuses Initiative is organizing a Nationwide Day of Action to  1) highlight the relative safety of marijuana compared to alcohol, and 2) inspire public debate on whether college students should be allowed to use marijuana as a safer recreational alternative to alcohol.

SSDP is working closely with SAFER to make some noise about this issue. Students across the country face suspension, expulsion, loss of housing and loss of financial aid for using marijuana, a drug that causes less harm to society and the individual. 

SAFER will provide your chapter with materials and media assistance to help you get involved and bring some media attention to your chapter and this issue. All you need to do is sign up and a rep from SAFER will be in touch shortly.

April 1st is right around the corner so if your chapter isn't confirmed to participate, sign up here!