You will never find an activist quicker to jump on a media opportunity than Mason Tvert of SAFER. Yesterday I told you of the campus controversy at the University of Georgia, where our NORML chapter there made a “Legalize” t-shirt featuring the Georgia bulldog and the famous Arch (click link for pics). I hadn’t even considered the fact that UGA logos appear all over alcohol-related products…
ATHENS — Controversy erupted at the University of Georgia late Wednesday afternoon after university officials threatened to throw a student organization off campus for producing T-shirts that call for the legalization of marijuana and feature a drawing of UGA mascot Hairy Dawg smoking a marijuana cigarette. Students responded Wednesday evening by teaming up with a national non-profit organization to launch a “Stop the Hypocrisy” campaign in defense of the shirts and their political statement, and highlighting UGA’s use of its logo and mascot to promote alcohol use. More information is available at the campaign’s Web site.
Georgia NORML at UGA will hold a news conference and demonstration Thursday at 12:15 p.m. in front of the UGA Campus Bookstore in Tate Plaza, at which students will be wearing the controversial T-shirts and displaying examples of officially licensed UGA alcohol paraphernalia purchased by students in the campus bookstore.
Statement from SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert:
“Hairy Dawg is a public figure, and these T-shirts clearly constitute political satire. Surely UGA’s lawyers are aware of the sound legal precedent that protects the freedom to such political speech. The administration simply dislikes the marijuana-related content of that speech.
Every objective study on marijuana has concluded that it is far safer than alcohol both to the user and to society. Alcohol contributes to overdose deaths, injuries, sexual assaults and date rapes, whereas the use of marijuana does not. Why is it okay for UGA put its logos on shot glasses and other alcohol-related paraphernalia — and sell it to students and visitors at the campus bookstore — but not okay for Georgia NORML to depict Hairy Dawg making the safer choice to use marijuana instead?
UGA officials should leave Georgia NORML alone and stop sending a dangerous ‘alcohol-only’ message to students.”
I was a 17-year-old freshman. Fortunately (or unfortunately), Idaho’s drinking age was 19 at the time.
Nothing says “easy” like a drunken coed. However, a stoner bitch will knock you the f-out.
Apparently UGA sells shot classes that say freshmen and sophomore on the glass …how many freshmen do you know who are 21 years old?
Oh ya, Russ, you posting the press conference??
This is outstanding…..Kudos to Mason and Safer for jumping on board and kudos to UGA NORML for not backing down. This fires me up!!!!
Roll Tide!!!!!