February 15, 1968 THE SKIDMORE NEWS Page Nine Vietnam . . . (Continued from page eight) Decree law 093-SL/CT makes it easy for the government to pick off its opponents. It outlaws any activity that can weaken the “national anti-Communist struggle” and “all plots under the false name of peace and neutrality.” Prosecution under the law is left to the military courts. Not long ago a young student was arrested for owning a copy of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire. The book is hardly NLF propaganda, but peace itself is a threat to the military regime. The repressive nature of the regime has polarized Vietnamese politics. Whereas there was once non-violent and diverse opposition to the government, now there is the simple choice, the government or the NLF. Those who care about their country either join the Front or wait until it takes over, believing there will be more freedom then. The repression has been a boon to the NLF. One of the most notable characteristics of a revolutionary period, according to Crane Brinton, is the inefficiency of the central government. Certainly here the truth of his statement becomes obvious. The bureaucratic legacy of the French is amazing to watch. Row after row of tired bureaucrats, staring out the windows, reading comic books, or shuffling papers back and forth, perhaps initialing each copy; no one in a hurry to do anything in the midst of a society faced with massive dislocation, the glaring ineptitude, the lack of concern—all this makes the revolution so understandable. The situation becomes more absurd since under Vietnamese tradition the bureaucracy considers itself “the father of the people.” In contrast to all this it is noted that the NLF is very well organized. If it replaces the moribund bureaucracy, they’ll be some changes made. Two faculty members have written books which were released recently: Dr. Denton W. Crocker, Professor of Biology and Chairman of the Department and Dr. Erwin L. Levine, Associate Professor of Government. Dr. Crocker’s book Handbook of the Crayfishes of Ontario which he wrote in association with David Bair, was published by the University of Toronto Press. The Press printed the book for the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto for which Dr. Crocker is a research assistant. Dr. Crocker expects the book to be of particular use to professional biologists and students, as well as naturalists and conservationists. Dr. Levine’s book An Introduction to American Government was written in collaboration with Elmer E. Cornwell, Jr. Chairman of the Government department at Brown University. The book will serve as a main source in any introductory course in American government. Dr. Levine has also written Theodore Francis Green: The Rhode Island Years, 1906-1936. Pot Possessor Appeals Verdict; Questions Constitutionality of Act By EUGENE KAHN, (LNS) This month the second highest court in the United States, the U.S. Court of Appeals, will review the constitutionality of the Washington, D. C. law prohibiting the sale or possession of marijuana. The D.C. law is almost identical with laws in 47 states. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, second only to the U.S. Supreme Court, has agreed to hear an appeal of the case of Steven V. Scott, who was arrested, tried and convicted under the D.C. law. Scott’s attorney, Ira M. Lowe, is appealing on the grounds that the law unjustifiably includes marijuana under the heading of a “narcotic drug.” The lawyer contends it is not a narcotic. Thus, he argues, any conviction for possession of marijuana under the law dealing with narcotics is a violation of the “due process” clause of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In November of 1966, Scott was stopped by the D.C. police as he was crossing Dupont Circle. He had been drinking and was taken in by the police. During a search the police found a small amount of marijuana in Scott’s possession. Scott was charged and subsequently convicted and sentenced for possession of marijuana by the Court of General Sessions of the District. The few seeds found in Scott’s pocket were considered grounds for a misdemeanor and he was sentenced to one year on probation. The District law, section 33-401,402 of the D.C. Code, like laws in 47 other states, was patterned after the proposed Uniform Drug and Narcotics Act, considered by Congress, but never passed. The question raised by Lowe is “whether or not a young man shall bear throughout his lifetime conviction of a serious charge of possession of narcotics when in fact he did not possess them.” At Scott’s trial in 1966, Lowe introduced testimony from a detective of the D.C. police narcotics squad and a chemist from the Treasury Department confirming that marijuana is not a narcotic substance. In answer to this, the prosecuting U.S. Attorney said that although marijuana is not a narcotic, the “fairly uniform approach of including marijuana in the definition of ‘narcotic drug’ itself suggests the reasonableness of including marijuana in this classification.” The Chief of the Appellate Division of the U.S. Attorney’s office, Frank Nebeker, contended that: “Congress can define narcotic as it wishes . . . it is not the chemical definition that controls.” The arresting detective in the case has said that although “any eight-year-old can go to a dictionary” to look up the definition of narcotic, “We go on what Congress says it is.” He agreed, however, that Lowe has a valid claim to appeal the use of an arbitrary definition. Lowe’s challenge to this reasoning is that “the original hearings of the House of Representatives in 1937 to discuss the ‘marijuana problem’ were conducted in an atmosphere of hysteria and that the resulting legislation was shaped by rumor rather than through objective medical and scientific data.” Lowe includes substantial references in his appeal to studies and reports attesting to the differences between the effects of marijuana and the opium drugs. “Congress classified marijuana in the opiates simply because it was thought that marijuana had the same effects, i.e., caused criminal behavior that opiates did. ..To treat marijuana under the penal law in the same manner as the opiates is contrary to accepted medical and scientific fact.” By so doing, continues Lowe, “The law has created a new class of criminals,” treating without discrimination the marijuana smoker, the drug addict, and the criminal. Should Lowe win the appeal, the pertinent section of the D.C. Code would have to be revised. This would not, however, have the effect of “legalizing pot.” The Marijuana Stamp Tax Act, a Federal statute making possession, sale or transport of any “usable amount” of marijuana a felony, would still foe in effect. In fact, this law can be applied to any case in which even a “few seeds” are found, but because of its stiffer penalty, ten years for the first arrest, five to 20 years for the second arrest, it is used with greater discretion. Nevertheless, should the Court of Appeals overturn the Scott conviction, this would make the similar law in 47 other states obviously suspect. What is most important, Lowe emphasized, is the mere fact that the Court of Appeals has decided to review this case. Unlike the District of Columbia Appellate Court, which denied to review the case—in effect upholding the law—the Court of Appeals is not obligated to pass upon any of the hundreds of cases it receives each year. On this basis alone, Lowe speculates that his appeal has about a 50 per cent chance of success. The government is presenting its case to the Court this month; therefore, the case should come before the Court sometime in February. Should the appeal be successful, and the law overturned, it could very well lead the way to a full-scale reinvestigation of marijuana laws throughout the country. Since the Federal Marijuana Stamp Tax Act by itself will not be practicable, the states will be forced to “do something.” This would permit the many advocates of legislation, or at least legalization of marijuana controls, to present their arguments at one time together, rather than the present sporadic and random attempts to bring the issue to an open debate. International Wind Ensemble Presents Milhaud, Stravinsky The Skidmore Performing Arts Series will present The Dorian Quintet on Wednesday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. in College Hall. The Dorian Quintet is an internationally known wind ensemble. The members of the quintet, Karl Kraber, flute; Charles Kuskin, oboe; William Lewis, clarinet; Jane Taylor, bassoon; and Barry Benjamin, French horn, had wide experience playing with symphony orchestras and chamber music groups before they joined together at Tanglewood in 1961. Since then they have made numerous tours of this country and abroad. They were heard at the Warsaw Autumn Festival in 1962. The following year the Department of State sponsored their tour of Africa. In 1966 they were recognized with an invitation to participate in the Stravinsky Festival at Lincoln Center and last year the State University of New York system appointed the quintet the resident chamber ensemble. On Wednesday the quintet will open their program with the suite “La Cheminee du Roi Rene” by Darius Milhaud. The suite includes “Cortege,” “Au-bade,” “Jongleurs,” “La Maou-singlade,” “Joutes sur l’arc,” “Chasse a Valabre.” The concert will also include Quintet in E Minor, Op. 88, No. 1 by Antonin Reicha, in four movements; Quintet for Winds by Hans Werner Henze, in three movements; “Trois pieces breves” by Jacques Ibert, and “Pastorale” by Igor Stravinsky. Hoyt L. Irwin, Professor of Music and Chairman of the Department, made the arrangements for the concert. There will be a “Rug and Coffee Happening” for freshmen and sophomores interested in becoming Elementary Education Majors in the Education Building classroom, 2 Union Avenue, on Tuesday, February 20 at 4 p.m. At this time those who wish will be given the opportunity to discuss with the staff and seniors any questions about being an Elementary Education major. Ten students, including nine members of a fiction workshop taught by Dr. Harry Barba, Assistant Professor of English have been notified that they have won membership on the College Board of Mademoiselle magazine. Four of the Skidmore entrants, the largest number from any college or university represented in the national competition, received special recommendations. One of the four is an art major. Receiving special recommendations are Misses Karleen A. Erhardt ’69, Linda R. La Barba ’69, and Leslie Ullman ’69 all members of the magazine workshop, and Marsha V. Petersen ’68, an Art Major. The other magazine workshop members named to the College Board are Joan C. Blackway ’68, Susan J. Campbell ’68, Anne Christine Dali ’68, Susan Rosenbloom ’68, Susan L. Sut-liff ’68 and Rosemary C. Tyler ’69. College Board members, if they wish, may continue in the competition in which Mademoiselle will select 20 guest editors to serve next summer. They also are invited to contribute to Mademoiselle and may be asked to assist in gathering information and opinion for use in Mademoiselle articles and departmental features. FINK'S TAXI Local and Long Distance Service P.S.C. and I.C.C. Licensed Call For Special Rates Personal and Package Delivery 584-3311 CUDNEY'S Launderer and Dry Cleaner HENRY ST. AT SPRING Coin Operated and Professional SIRO'S STEAK HOUSE 168 Lincoln Ave. Saratoga Springs, N. Y. Dinner Served from 4 P.M. — 11 P.M. Dancing Every Saturday Evening — 9:30 P-M- — 2:30 A.M. (Closed Tuesday) Catering to Parties and Banquets CALL: 584-4030 Memo... to: Skidmore from: Skidmore BOOKMARK News surfaced that many of you consider our Record Department a freak out. Instead of staying hung up on a riff we’ve changed the scene. Zap . . . from now on it’s less acid rock and more like Mozart. We hope this turns on to your own thing and that you join us on the trip. RECORD PRICES List Our Price 3.79 2.79 4.79 3.69 5.79 4.59 6.79 5.49