2008 Woodie Awards
On the pot cultivation series
Steven Dimon
Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Letters to the Editor
- Page 1 of 1
Who in the Lumberjack staff decided to do a three-part series on marijuana cultivation and focus on its supposed negative impacts on housing shortages of all things? I reiterate the position I stated last week: do not publish articles regarding the topic of marijuana cultivation. If this topic is continued in the press (with pictures of grow operations no less) there will be backlash beyond our community's means to protect.
Do I need to state this? Yes, marijuana brings in enormous amounts of capital on the north coast. Although I'm not an economist (just a humble clown and political science major) I believe weed and out-of-town student/parent money are our greatest sources of area income. What if one of these sources were to vanish because this publication and others like it constantly insisted on printing defamatory articles about it? Peoples' means to pay for higher education and to indulge in local businesses should be of no concern to a paper supposedly "for students, by students" as the mission statement suggests.
Printing these articles of note are in direct failure of the mission statement of the Lumberjack. If the Lumberjack does "strive to act as a watchdog of those instituting policy that affects students and their surrounding communities" then what is the sense in harping on students and the community? Article space could more readily and effectively be used for fulfilling the previous quote by writing about the City Council of which the student body at large knows little of but yet have enormous affects on lives within city limits, or more Richmond articles. Something needs to be done about that guy.
Priorities people!
If a student were to come to me and say that "yes, a grow operation kept me from living where I wanted" then I'd say this article series is relevant. But as everyone I've communicated with finds that statement to be false and ridiculous then I request, with the communities best interest and continuance in mind, that the Lumberjack hold itself "accountable" to the population it serves and honestly recognize the possible negative impacts of the articles the staff choose to print.
Save the Northcoast: Leave no trace in print.
Do I need to state this? Yes, marijuana brings in enormous amounts of capital on the north coast. Although I'm not an economist (just a humble clown and political science major) I believe weed and out-of-town student/parent money are our greatest sources of area income. What if one of these sources were to vanish because this publication and others like it constantly insisted on printing defamatory articles about it? Peoples' means to pay for higher education and to indulge in local businesses should be of no concern to a paper supposedly "for students, by students" as the mission statement suggests.
Printing these articles of note are in direct failure of the mission statement of the Lumberjack. If the Lumberjack does "strive to act as a watchdog of those instituting policy that affects students and their surrounding communities" then what is the sense in harping on students and the community? Article space could more readily and effectively be used for fulfilling the previous quote by writing about the City Council of which the student body at large knows little of but yet have enormous affects on lives within city limits, or more Richmond articles. Something needs to be done about that guy.
Priorities people!
If a student were to come to me and say that "yes, a grow operation kept me from living where I wanted" then I'd say this article series is relevant. But as everyone I've communicated with finds that statement to be false and ridiculous then I request, with the communities best interest and continuance in mind, that the Lumberjack hold itself "accountable" to the population it serves and honestly recognize the possible negative impacts of the articles the staff choose to print.
Save the Northcoast: Leave no trace in print.
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