The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 53, No. 19, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 28, 1973 Page: 2 of 12
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Page 2
February 28, 1973
The J-TAC
I;
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I J-TAC EDITORIALS)
Pending Drug Law
Could Be Harmful
by Bill Atkins
House and Senate committees in the state legislature
are currently studying six proposals aimed at the
softening of the state's felony charge on those convicted
of simple possession of marijuana. Currently only two
states, Texas and Rhode Island, consider persons
convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana
felons.
Bills under consideration would reduce the penalty,
but all in different ways. One, by Rep. Ron Waters,
D-Houston, would decriminalize all private possession of
"grass," but still ban public possession of sale of it.
Others make pos,session of a small amount (about 2 oz.)
a misdemeanor, with graduated charges from a
misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the amount
possessed.
But the bill proposed by Gov. Dolph Briscoe,
apparently designed to appear as a reform, would only
hurt effprts to attack the drug problem in the state.
Conviction for first time- marijuana possession, of less
tfran 8 ounces would be a misdemeanor punishable by a
fine of up to $2,000 and a one year jail term.
Subsequent convictions and anything that might be
categorized as a "sale" could still result in the felony
charge and life imprisonment.
Simple possession of just marijuana paraphernalia,
like a "roach clip" or a pipe would still be a felony.
Penalties for possessing other drugs would be raised.
Former state senator Don Kennard who is chairman
of the Senate Interim Drug Study Committee said that
Briscoe's bill "gives the illusion of reform while raising
penalties to ridiculous heights."
The committee has a bill of their own in the
legislature sponsored by Sen. Chet Brooks, D-Pasadena
and Rep. Andrews Baker, D-Galveston. Their bill attacks
the drug problem at the level of the pusher, and
emphasizes medical care for those who use drugs but
desire help.
Possession of more than three ounces of marijuana,
tilth the intent of selling, or actual sale, would result in
a felony charge with a maximum three year sentence.
Some cities in Texas have dropped immediate
prosecution of those charged with marijuana possession
pending the outcome of reform attempts in the Texas
Legislature. Other, "more rural towns, continue to seek
up to life imprisonment for those arrested.
Hopefully Texas will scrap its unfair marijuana law,
and substitute one that will let young people know that
they are willing to deal with the drug problem
realistically.
But Dolph Briscoe's plan is not the answer. Don
Kennard said, "It reeks of failure. It's an out-and-out
fraud, counterproductive to the problem."
j?
I The J-TAC I
The J-TAC, student newspaper of Tarleton State College,, is published by
Tarleton State College on Wednesdays during the regular fall and spring
semesters with the exception' of school holidays and examination periods.
Printer is the Stephenville Empire-Tribune, Stephenville, Texas.
Editor . Mike Smiddy
Assistant Editor Bill Atkins
News Editors . . . Richard Nachtigall
, ; Arleen Hawkins
David William^
Business Manager > Dan Whitis
Photographers Haul Ollar, Bob Jameson
Composer Danette Whitt
Circulation Manager _v Cindy Bernhardt
Faculty Advisor Tom Shuford
f represented for national advertising by f
National Educational Advertising Services, Inc. 9
il 360 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y. 10017 '
All ten oP 'em f
I'll go down
ana tell the
people.'
TetilThoU
Shaft not
Cove+1
That's itf."
Bleven? ?r
Letters to the Editor
Student Money Complaints
Directed to Wrong Place
The J-TAC welcomes letters to the editor; however, we
reserve the right to edit letters to fit the requirements of
length or style. Unsigned or libelous letters will not be
published.
To the Editor:
I read the Feb, 21, 1973 issue
of the J-TAC and the letters to
the editor in that issue. I find it
most1 pleasing that students do
take such an intense interest in
the welfare of their school.
However, I wish to say here that
I think that Mr. Phillip Baird,
Mr. Bill Woods, and Mr. James
D. Waters have some legitimate
complaints about the physical
facilities at Tarleton but they
seem misguided in interpreting
whose fault these bad conditions
are.
I think it most obvious that
neither the faculty, nor the
administrative officers, have a
great deal to do with the final
appropriation and distribution
of state funds to the colleges. If
there are areas in the process of
.appropriation and distribution
that need revamping it would
behoove the students concerned
about this to go to the source, to
>the men who are responsible.
This would be the legislative
members of the state legislature.
Mr. Woods would be acting
most immaturely if he indeed
wrote his state representative
asking for funds to be withheld
until such time that the college
adheres to what he terms
"se n-s ible financial
management." First, Mr. Woods,
surely you are not saying that if
the cafeteria doesn't consistently
serve your ideal dessert that you
would advocate no dessert being
served at all. (That dessert in
your case I would venture would
have to be plain vanilla).
The "front door", in Mr.
Woods words, to this campus is
certainly in need of updating.
not just a new gate, but the
approach into the campus needs
to be improved. Surely Mr.
Woods would not advocate
building a $50,000 home and
putting a deteriorated, worn and
sagging door in thfe front?
What the overall view should
be is how would a modern,
updated university plant look
with a worn and out of date
"front door?" The objective of
the administration surely is to
take care of the problems
mentioned in Mr. Baird's letter,
and to build a better educational
plant, and a more attractive
campus which would be more
conducive to creating better
studying conditions.
The "front door" is only a
detail in the overall plan. I think
Mr. Woods and Mr. Waters are
too busy making spikes out of
straight pins!
What I think would be of
value in this upcoming hearing in
March concerning the
appropriations for Tarleton
would be some student support
for the administration and for
Sen. Tom Creighton. The
Student Senate could draw up a
set of proposals stating what in
the student body's opinion are
the needs of the college and then
state their interest in building a
college which the state and the
students could really be proud
of. This statement could also
express their confidence in
President Trogdon. By
circulating this among the
student body for signatures and
then mailing it to the House
Finance Committee, maybe a
voice would be heard.
This is a time for positive
thinking.
E.W. Yager, Jr.
Comments
by Mike Smiddy
In the student newspaper
business, t lie re are many
opportunities to make mistakes.
There are so many things
happening that it is virtually
impossible to cover everything
perfectly. This, however, is not
an excuse for inaccurate
reporting.
Last week the J-TAC was
guilty of the latter and as editor
it is my duty to correct the
unfortunate error.
The mistake occurred in a
series of articles concerning the
scheduled appearance of Wanzer
Drane, a professor of statistics at
SMU. The first inaccuracy
surrounded the fact that the
J-TAC reported his invitation to
appear when actually his
invitation was only being
discussed.
The second incident occurred
last week when we reported that
the speaker would appear before
the wrong group.
To set the record straight,
Drane will speak to a combined
meeting of Tti-Beta .Biological
4onor Society^ Math Club, and
Biology Club M'arch 22,
My apologies to those
affected by the mistaken actions
on the part of the J-TAC.
H" "t* "i*'
The current production being
presented by the Tarleton
Players is fun and plenty of
work. I thought that a part in
this play would be especially
enjoyable for the actors and
such has been the case.
I have been in plays before
but never have I had to stay in
makeup for an hour before each
show, being aged at least forty
years. Then, after every
performance, there is the
painstaking chore of removing
layers of pancake, lines of age,
and streaks of grayed hair.
Even with the work involved,
the makeup really helps. It
allows the actor to more fully
become the part being played
and forces the audience into the
proper frame of mind with
regard to the older characters.
I suppose that in the case of
the stern old Boston judge who
condemns witches in "The
Crucible", the makeup job is
good. An indication of this fact
is when college friends fail to
recognize the actor's identity. A
better indication is that a
grandfather did not notice his
grandson was actually under all
the elaborate characterization,
makeup, and costumes.
* * * *
Only about 200 people voted
in the Sweetheart election. In all
too many campus elections, such
has been the case. Very few
people consider fit worth their
time to cast a ballot.
Nominations are being taken
today -for the All-Tarleton Man
and Woman election. Please stop
and cast a vote.4
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The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 53, No. 19, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 28, 1973, newspaper, February 28, 1973; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth141262/m1/2/: accessed July 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Tarleton State University.