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Former Vols prepare for NFL Draft
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Thursday, April 22, 2010 Issue 66
E D I T O R I A L L Y
Staff writer Will Abrams gives his view on Hollywood’s film industry PUBLISHED SINCE 1906 http://dailybeacon.utk.edu
Vol. 113
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Lecturer speaks on drug decriminalization Kyle Turner Staff Writer
NY Sen. Schumer wants northern border drug plan BUFFALO, N.Y.— New York Sen. Charles Schumer said he’ll work to drum up support from colleagues in other northern border states for a comprehensive plan to combat drug smuggling along the U.S.-Canadian border. Schumer said Wednesday he’ll introduce legislation soon to require the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to devise and implement an anti-narcotics strategy similar to the one in place for the southern border. He said statistics show cocaine, heroin and marijuana seizures have increased along the U.S.Canadian border since 2007 and that the border is now the primary gateway for Ecstasy trafficked into the United States. Sarkozy to submit bill banning Islamic face veils PARIS— French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday ordered legislation that would ban women from wearing Islamic veils that hide the face in the street and other public places. In seeking to forbid the garment from public view, Sarkozy defied the advice of experts sought by the government who warned that such a broad ban risked contravening France’s constitution. Such a measure would put France on the same track as Belgium, which is also moving toward a complete ban in a similar reaction as Islamic culture has come in conflict with native European values. Sarkozy has repeatedly said that such clothing oppresses women and is “not welcome” in France. Government spokesman Luc Chatel said after Wednesday’s weekly Cabinet meeting that the president decided the government should submit a bill to parliament in May on an overall ban on burqa-like veils. NJ voters reject 59 percent of school budgets CHERRY HILL, N.J.— The state pastime in New Jersey may be complaining about the state’s highest-inthe-nation property taxes, but it’s rare for voters to stand up against them. That changed this week. Urged on by first-year Republican Gov. Chris Christie as he tries to cut spending at all levels of government, voters rejected 59 percent of school budget proposals in local elections on Tuesday, sending them to municipal governing bodies for cuts. It was the first time in 34 years that the majority of budget proposals have been nixed. Schools across the country have not been exempt as recession-depleted tax revenues have prompted state and local governments to reduce spending.
Timothy Lynch, director of Cato’s Project on Criminal Justice, explained his rationale for the decriminalization of drugs in the U.S. during his lecture at UT on April 20. The war on drugs has been waged and lost, Lynch said. “The drug policy of the United States used to be the standard of the world, but that is no longer the case,” Lynch said. Countries such as Canada, Switzerland and Argentina are no longer swayed by U.S. pressure, breaking file and rank with U.S. drug policy, he explained. Lynch’s work at Cato has included studying the effects of decriminalization of drugs in countries such as Portugal, which has the most liberalized drug policy and where all drugs have been decriminalized since 2001, Lynch said. “The main, dire predictions, such as drug tourists and those using Portugal as a drug haven, have simply not come to pass,” he said. With this realization, no strong movement has presented itself in the fight against decriminalization and has led the U.S. in a different direc-
tion. Lynch cites the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, as a leader in the movement to stop the “war” against drugs. “It is not a change in policy but simply a change in tone,” Lynch said. One policy that has changed is Attorney General Eric Holder’s halt on DEA drug raids on medicinal marijuana clinics in states like California. Lynch said this is one sign that the political climate surrounding drug criminalization is changing, though some students seem skeptical. “I thought many of Lynch’s points were factually valid, but it is still to be seen whether any elected official will put their neck on the line to advocate for drug decriminalization,” Stephen Rainey, sophomore in aerospace engineering, said. “It just seems like a big risk that not many politicians are willing to take.” Lynch said that 14 states have already allowed for medicinal marijuana clinics with some even expected to have full-blown marijuana legalization in coming years. Lynch promised the audience that the drug debate will seriously heat up in the com-
ing months, stemming from possible changes that could occur regarding drug policy in states such as California, which is exploring legalization for financial and social reasons. On the social views of marijuana, Lynch said that Americans have come a long way and are beginning to view drug use in a different light. “The media is doing more reporting on drug use in American society and is doing it in a way that is neither glamorizing nor demonizing,” he said. “They are simply reporting on the issue and allowing people to make up their own minds.” Lynch cited President Barack Obama’s own history with drugs. “Though Obama regrets his drug use, the logic that he is now better off than he would have been if sent to jail holds true for other drug users,” he said. Other factors for legalization can include the escalating violence surrounding drugs themselves. Violence in Mexico has escalated, as have turf wars between rival gangs fighting for control of the drug market. See LYNCH on Page 3
George Richardson • The Daily Beacon
Professor discusses changing relations between US, China Blair Kuykendall Staff Writer
• Photo courtesy of UT Media Relations
UT has added Automated Electronic Defibrillators into the patrol cars. AED’s help to increase the survival rate for a person in cardiac arrest.
UTPD cruisers add defibrillators Kristian Smith Student Life Editor The UT Police Department has added a new feature to enhance campus safety. As of Wednesday, all patrol cars will be equipped with Automatic Electronic Defibrillators (AEDs). Lieutenant Emily Simerly, a special operations officer with UTPD, said officers are often the first responders to calls. “We respond to sick or distressed students and faculty,” she said. “Many times we arrive before the ambulance service, and (with an AED) we can save someone’s life.” Police Captain Keith Lambert said in a press release that the survival rate for a person in cardiac arrest is increased by an AED. According to the American Heart Association, more than 250,000 people die in the United States from cardiac arrest each year, and the survival rate decreases by 7 to 10 percent for each minute that passes without a defibrillator. Simerly said that the AEDs are simplified and that all officers have been trained to use them. “None of our folks had a problem with them,” she said. Simerly said the officers were excited to get the training. “Anytime we train in first-aid, which
includes AED, the employees are happy to receive that training,” she said. Simerly said that the AEDs are very easy to use, even in stressful situations, and having them provides comfort to people who are not medically trained. “They add an element of comfort to people who do not have the same medical skills as others,” she said. Though there have never been AEDs in UTPD cruisers before, Simerly said UTPD has been looking to add AEDs for a while. She said it was much easier to put AEDs in police cruisers than in every building on campus. Since the cruisers are mobile, she said it eliminates the issue of someone having to look for the specific location of an AED. Simerly said AEDs also help officers have a better sense of security about their work. “We have had several incidents where officers have performed CPR; some were successful, some were not,” she said. “It really helps that the officers have another element to let them know they did everything they could.” Elise Bernius, senior in communication studies, said she feels safer knowing that UTPD has AEDs. “If they’re all trained on them, (getting to students in need) could be a lot faster,” she said.
Dr. David Michael Lampton, who serves as the director of China studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, discussed the current outlook of U.S.China security relations in his lecture “Interdependence between the United States and China: A threat to national security or a safeguard for the future global community?” at the International House Tuesday evening. His lecture served as a critical piece of the Great Decisions Program, which is financially supported by the Ready for the World Initiative and organized by the Center for International Education. This semester’s lecture series targeted speakers from around the country in order to discuss our nation’s current and prevalent international relations issues. The professor spoke about the current outlook of our relationship with the Asian superpower. Lampton set out to “give some insight into how the Chinesse feel about their security situation” and hope to “avoid some of the mutual distrust” that could arise between the nations. He reminded the audience that in the late 1960s the relationship between China and the United States was strained by conflicts in both Korea and Vietnam. “It’s your task to preserve and improve that relationship,” Lampton charged students. He equated U.S.-China relations to a garden, one that must be “continuously tilled and cultivated.” The audience was deeply engaged in his remarks. “I was struck by Dr. Lampton’s assertion that one of the defining issues of our generation will be negotiating our
country’s fall from dominance in the dispersion of global power,” Daniel Aycock, freshman in buisness, said. “I also wonder about the environmental implications of China’s projected energyintensive development.” Lampton began by recounting the story of Tennessee’s own Senator Jim Sasser, who studied Chinese culture deeply and who Lampton championed as “one of the best ambassadors in the history of these relations.” He stated his goal as “talking about Chinese power and how (students) should think about it.” The professor then shared his beliefs regarding how China is acquiring and using the power to threaten, bribe and persuade. He first warned of the limited scope of his presentation, making generalizations about the 1.3 billion people that inhabit the country. He evaluated recent developments in U.S.-China relationships, how the Chinese viewed themselves and their growing power and what this power change means for Americans. Lampton recounted some issues between the nations, with the treasury department recently accusing China of intentionally manipulating its currency rates. This conflict, however, was tempered with China indicating it will revalue its currency slowly to comply with U.S. requests. Other issues consisted of the Dali Lama’s visit to America, which offended the Chinese government, as well as competition within the global cyber networks, which according to Lampton, “is not going to improve anytime in the foreseeable future”. However, human rights talks between the two nations have resumed, and it is likely that the Chinese president will be visiting America again this year. See RELATIONS on Page 3