December 6, 1990

IIMICNIIUNAL 2>tL\*,uinu CA^u&UHt OPINION 20ISP0RTS James Madison Univrasty THURSDAY DECEMBER 6,1990 VOL 68. NO. 26 Government says it has no plans to draft IVtike Consedine issue. "On campus I don't think the And Dr. Richard Flaskamp, assistant all-volunteer army. But the draft never stcffwriter draft is on many peoples' minds yet. I professor of political science, said, "A ceased to be an issue. The crisis in the really think that we all believe that war draft would be just silly. No one in Middle East has renewed apprehension "Greetings. You are nearby ordered is not going to happen, and that it government is even contemplating that a draft might be restored — for induction .. " won't affect us on campus — and that such a thing. especially if the military situation in It's a hello most students never want is sad." "The situation is not that serious, we the Gulf changes. to read. With tensions in the Gulf If a draft was called up, Opett said he are talking about Iraq here," he said. Lt. Col. William A. MacDonald, headed for a breaking point, the draft would go — but with mixed feelings. "We are not talking about a war head of the military science has again become a subject of "I think if a conflict did break out between the U.S. and the Soviet department, said, "One of die elements discussion for college students—even and it did warrant me going over, I'm Union." that would weigh on whether or not a though the government says it has no not saying I wouldn't have a problem Dr. Robert Roberts, associate draft should be brought back is plans to reinstate drafting. with it — but I feel as an American it professor of political science, agrees manpower need in the event of a war." Rob Opett, a senior, said, "The would be my duty to help serve," he with Flaskamp. "There probably won't But MacDonald views any conflict as impression I've been getting is that said. be any need for a draft because there is short, and therefore extra manpower there is a definite possibility of a draft The Pentagon says it has no plans to no possibility that this is going to be and the need for the draft would be occurring. , draft again, and some JMU faculty say a long-term engagement." unnecessary. "I think the idea of a draft is rapidly the idea of a draft would be a serious Flaskamp added, "It would be Roberts said, "In a worst-case becoming a larger issue," he said. "I've blow to the Bush administration. political suicide for Bush to enact a scenario if we take and occupy Iraq, heard more and more people on campus "I've had a million questions on that draft." which no one is talking about right talking about it." one, but there is no intention to The last draft officially ended in now, in theory if you had to have an But Kathy Obenschain, a senior, said initiate the draft," said a Pentagon 1972, when President Nixon and some students are still avoiding the spokesman. Congress replaced it with an DRAFT page 2 Sky high: Illegal drug use 'widespread' on campus Editor's note: Due to the sensitive nature of the 1,859 students were polled, 30 percent said they story, all names have been changed. mostly to the big cities — like D.C., New York, had used marijuana within the past year; 5 percent Northern Virginia and even Detroit — to bring had used LSD, and 4 percent had used cocaine. drugs back to Harrisonburg to sell." Michelle, a JMU junior, says she gets high five Results of the 1990 survey, done in October, Michelle said, "If you want drugs, are patient and or six times a week. She smokes pot and have not yet been compiled and will not be have the money, you'll find drugs." occasionally takes LSD. available until next semester. But Michelle and But lack of money is a big obsiacle to college Pete, a sophomore, gets high on pot just about Pete, both communication majors, said drug use in drug users. All four students have, at one lime, sold every weekend. general has slowed lately because the price of drugs drugs to support their own drug use. None, "I'd say that a lot of people at JMU are has risen substantially. however, consider themselves dealers. regular drug users — they get high at "In high school, a quarter-ounce of pot was $25," "Unless you sell sometimes, you can't buy your least once a week," Pete says. "It's Michelle said. "Now a quarter-ounce bag can go for own drugs," Pete said. "1 have sold drugs for profit not as high as 50 percent, but as much as $60. That's high. The price of pot has to buy my own drugs. it's nowhere as low as 25 doubled in the past six years." Most people can get "Some people are steady dealers, some deal percent." high four times from a quarter ounce of marijuana. every once in a while. If I have And Rob, a senior who The supply of marijuana also has diminished this friends who want drugs and I smokes pot, takes acid and year, and that has made the cheaper, more can find them some. I'll sell eats psychedelic accessible LSD the drug of choice for many people. it to them for what 1 bough i mushrooms, estimates that Pete said LSD goes for $2.50 to $3 a hit, enough to it for, but I don't think "easily over one-third of get high one time. that makes me a JMU students do drugs on a Jim, a junior who gets high "occasionally," said, dealer." Csv regular basis." "It's hard as shit to get drugs this year. The supply Rob estimated Drug use at JMU is of pot is low. Coke is more readily available than that 75 ». surprisingly dope, and acid is pretty prevalent throughout the percent \ widespread. community." of people & According to Pete said even though the federal crackdown on who do drugs JMU's 1989 drugs has contributed to the scarcity of narcotics at regularly Student Development JMU, the crackdown doesn't stop people from Survey, in which getting drugs. JMU students who are dealers "go DRUGS page 2 Article by Laura Hutchison Graph ics and Design by Doreen Jacobson & Ellen Stem w^-v- 2 • TOE BREEZE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6,1990 Draft CONTINUED frontpage 1 his or her country," he said. MacDonald feels that if there is a occupational army, like the Israelis' draft, including women would not be have in Jordan, you might need a draft out of the question. to replace people." "I think the services have proven Flaskamp said, "A draft would only lately that the female can do the job as be useful if the war was projected to well as the man can," he said. last a year and half to two years." However, MacDonald said women If a draft is called, the first to be should not Tight in combat. called up would be young men in their But Obenschain said, "I think we 20th year. Within that group of 20 should be drafted just like men. year olds, the priority for being called "As far as combat is concerned, part up will be fixed by a lottery operated of me says we should be right up there by the Selective Service. with the men, but the other part of me Also, if a draft is reinstated, college says men are generally stronger, and in students would not get any special that sense they may be more deferments. physically ready," she said. "As the law currently stands now In order to avoid the controversy of there are no more student exemptions; the draft. Congress has been looking they're gone, and there is no way for ways to collect manpower other Congress would bring back the than a military draft since Vietnam. legislation for student deferment," Roberts said, "For the last couple of Roberts said. years there has been a proposal being The reason for this can be traced back kicked around Congress for a 'universal to the Vietnam War. Flaskamp said, "a service requirement', whereby all 18 to lot of middle-class and white students. 21 year olds will have to do some form . were staying in college forever in of universal service, be it the army or order to avoid the draft." some other form of community The new draft legislation is designed service." to be more egalitarian, Flaskamp said. JMU students seem to have MacDonald said, "In my opinion, if considered the possibility of a draft, a draft is initiated, every able-bodied but they are not taking the prospect citizen, with parameters defined for age too seriously. JANET SWMCN/THE BREEZE Drew Borden, a senior said, "I'm not and hardship included . should be Workers haul the Christmas tree across the Quad for tonight's considered." worried yet about a draft — I think the lighting ceremony at 8 p.m. "If a draft is fair, it means you give conflict will be over too fast, unless it every citizen an opportunity to serve takes an unexpected turn." Drugs CONTINUED from page 1 figure out things when I'm high that I couldn't before. "No student shall possess or distribute an illegal drug It can make you see things in a different light." as defined by the Drug Control Act of the have sold drugs at least once.

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