Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

4 Volume LXIX, No. B9 Univenaity of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. Nov. 2Q, 1978 Lobbying cited as ine NORMI By Tom Travis Oamtcock Staff Writer Funding eligibility was denied Wednesday for the USC chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, NORML, because the Student Senate ruled the national organization employs lobbyists and is therefore political in nature. T TCP MnDMT " * - * * " uuv nvivmu uiniiiutiii vvuyne jorooKs, denounced tne senate decision, saying, "This couldn't be further from the truth. We (NOHML) were defined as an educational organization when we received our charter. Our concern is with public education, not political interests." He added that the national organization employs lobbyists, not the USC chapter. This spring USC? NOEML was denied funding by the Student Allocations Commission, SAC, which controls and disburses much of USC's funds for clubs and organizations. SAC acts in an advisory capacity to Student Government SG. Senate statute 740:6 waB cited in the decision. The codification reads: "No funds allocated in the budget for supplies, equipment, t* services purchased with these vWSyj:: , HHnHnil^BH^^H^HHBI^niHnBlH&? ?A^r V *?? j VsvTki - iR; BMBMBMgMM ligiblity factor - decries po funds shall be used directly or indirectly for any political purpose. A political purpose shall be defined as the support of any political party or of any candidate, announced or unannounced, for any office on any level." "I CANNOT UNDERSTAND how the senate or SAC interpreted this law to apply to NORML. We have endorsed no political parties or candidates, nor do we intend to do so," Brooks said. Lisa Vogelsong, SG treasurer, said the issue of marijuana legalization is an indirect political purpose. Brooks said during the recent senate meeting, Mike Nunn, USC attorney general, unwisely argued against NORML. "Mike Nunn is not capable of making a decision about NORML. He is ignorant of the function and purpose of our organization." Nunn said he was representing SAC in his official capacity as attorney general. "Brooks had asked for funds to attend the national NORML conference in Washington. This is a political function, and we should not allocate funds. The university's tax-exempt status is at stake here," Nunn said. NORML' 'We have not T2" been given a fair ^TiSTgl - - - go before shake ana have NORML been denied cooperation by "Doug b _ , me he can Student enough rat intended t Government Brooks sai J O A - ti OS LICK ( QTIG S<A(^. Vogelsor meeting, a everyone t Wayne Brooks, " chairman of the sActd^ * t o i i Brooks sa: use branch Bostick of NORML operated li STUDEP infringing meeting. S IffT I mL s uppe "I think been so n NORML ei ample con A about wha Brooks ci seriously." NORML's various US "People 1 Brooks saic cooperatioi litical label The Internal Revenue Service prohibits university funding for political functions, according to Nunn. Brooks admitted seeking funds for the national cnn. ference, Dec. 1 to 3, but denied political participation on behalf of the USC branch of NORML. SAC determined NORML has a "political purpose" in a letter to Brooks dated April 21. Brooks said he did not have adequate time to prepare an appeal to the Student Senate because he was not informed immediately of SAC's decision. The letter was received by Brooks on April 24, and the last senate meeting of the semester was April 26. NUMEROUS APPEALS to SAC for reconsideration proved unsuccessful, he said. "NORML has encountered difficulties in every effort to receive funding or other consideration by USC," Brooks said. "We have tried to work within the system but the powers that be are obviously against us." The USC branch of NORML had a difficult time enlisting a faculty adviser for SAC representation, according to Brooks. Faculty members were hesitant to represent NORML because of "repercussions" within deoartments he added. s adviser at USC is James Stiver of the Philosophy it. laid a professor advised him to choose a tenured faculty Without tenure, no professor would "dare to be associated -oup," Brooks said. "This hurt us badly, because we couldn't SAC without a faculty adviser." OFFICIALS attempted to ask for consideration of funds >ast week, but a quorum of SAC members could not be raised ting. ostick, administrative assistant to the dean of Students, told celled the SAC meeting Monday because there wouldn't he smbers present. Later, I talked with SAC mem be * who had o show up. There definitely could have been a quorum," id. could not be reached for comment. ig said an unexpected SAC member showed up for the ,nd there could have been a Quorum. l?ut "we couldn't o#?t ogether. Special meetings are difficult because SAC memand have other duties." ext asked for consideration by the Student Senate. The senate rmine NORML's eligibility for funding, but chose to uphold ision. SAC is under the jurisdiction of the Student Senate, id. should not have cancelled the meeting. In doing so, he cut off pportunity to go before SAC this semester. SAC is being ke a branch of Student Affairs," Brooks said. ri sitiin atk ^resident Garry Norris accused the senate of on NORML's right to due process during Wednesday's Several senators tried to adjourn the meeting before NORial could be heard. NORML would have been better served if the senate had not istless," Brooks said. "Many senators who voted against ther failed to realize or ignored the fact that by not giving us sideration they have slapped the faces of people who care t this organization is doing." riticized the administration and SAC for "not taking NORML He cited the fact that no administration officials attended film-lecture program despite letters sent by Brooks to >C officials. look at the name of our organization and make judgments," I. "We have not been given a fair shake and have been denied i by Student Government and SAC." Inside 1 amecock ESikgthall ?