THE DAIL\ COLLEGIAN Economist discusses drugs By Jourdan Cole _=6iA,N STAFF WRITER There is one thing that would make Walter Block not want to legalize drugs --- taxes because taxes are used to take away free dom, he said. Austrian economist and liber tarian theorist Block spoke on Tuesday night to about 50 people in the Thomas building on the lib ertarian philosophy and the legal ization of drugs. The event was hosted by the College Libertarians. and Block started off the nighi by explaining that -liber tarianism is the view that you can do anything you want. except you cant initiate violence against peo ple and their property- College Libertarians President Lawyer speaks through Out Law By Marilyn Perez STAFF WRITER Civil rights lawyer and co founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center Morris Dees spoke Tuesday night about the impor tance of justice in the world and his experience as a lawyer who is known for taking on controversial Thcre can be no peace in the world unless there's fairness and justice: Dees said. Dees. brought by the Dickinson School of Laws LGBTQA organi zation Out Law spoke to approxi mately 200 people on "Equal Justi::-c for in the Greg Sutliff iteriu nt the Lewis Katz Building Ile is most known for his cent roverial civil rights cases in the , Swift lawyer promis a lot richcs like a good, con sistent -;aito?. to care for a family. But, ht. said there are more important rewards that come from career in law. TNe riches you will gain from Do TN have a memory from FAII EI - 7 that you want to hold oil to M The Daily prints o Nicole Ritschel said the lecture was just what she was looking for to explain her reasons for support ing legalization. "It was important to give a legitimacy to our argument, because people who are looking at our argument from the outside, see it as an excuse to get high," Ritschel (junior-political science) said. Block explained the basis for legalizing drugs from a philosoph ical and economic perspective. Citing hang gliding, coal mining and french fries, Block said all pose certain risks to humanity but they are all still legal. "If you own yourself, you ought to be able to put crap in your own body," Block said. 'Just because it's harmful, forcing adults to act Civil rights icon Morris Dees talks to students about his experiences as a lawyer in the Greg Sutliff Auditorium on Tuesday night. being a lawyer, the real things you'll remember are the people whose lives that you affected," Dees said. He spoke of one case in partic ular that he said he found most touching. He said the case involved Michael Donald, a young black man who was lynched by two Ku Klux Klan members. He represented Donald's moth er in the case, and said one of the Klan members was sentenced to death. As the man was leaving the courtroom, he asked Mrs. Donald for forgiveness, he added. Dees said there wasn't a dry eye in the room when Mrs. Donald responded, "Son, I've already forgiven you." The Donald case was one of the most notable stories Dees told during his lecture, said Denise (From August 2000 'til Present) LOCAL responsibly is totalitarian." From an economic standpoint, he said the amount of people using drugs and the demand for drugs would not differ much from cur rent usage if they were legalized. He said every time the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) suc ceeds, they seed their own failure by causing the drug trade to come back stronger. After explaining his reasons drugs should be legalized, Block took on arguments against legalizing drugs. Block said those who argue that addic tive drugs promote crime were nonsensical because regulation of drugs would actually lead to less crime. While some were unsure of their standpoints on the legaliza- Peter Tesonero/Colleglan Conner (graduate-chemistry) - From a legal standpoint, it was groundbreaking, - Conner said. "I think it was good work. The words of the mother who lost her son were really, 'Wow' Dees said that Martin Luther King Jr. had fears and doubts about a democracy with liberty and justice for all, but he had dreams, too. Elementary school teacher Claudia Wilson, a Miles Township resident, has used the idea of tak ing dreams and making them a reality into action in her classes. had my kids pick something they had a dream about," Wilson said. really challenged them to accomplish what their dream was.- To e-mail reporter: mcpso7l@psu.edu Open a Go Blue Checking Account and get perks specially designed for students Chr, D'rai C Walter Block gives an enthusiastic speech about personal freedoms to a group of students in the Thomas building on Tuesday night. tion of drugs, Frank Chang said he cism, I guess it's not harmful to saw good points in Block's lecture discuss it in public," Chang fresh such as a legitimate use of liber- man-political science) said. ties and a person's body "There's always a hint of skepti- To e-mail reporter: jpcs2ol@psu.edu Cultural Festival sees successful beginning It started strong with eight straight hours of movies, and the World Cultural Festival still plans to do a whole lot more. The Paul Robeson Cultural Center celebrated the beginning of the World Cultural Festival on Tuesday The festival began fairly well, staff member Arlana Henry (junior-crime law and justice) said. "It's off to a pretty great start she said. Though it is her first year help ing out with the festival, Henry anticipates more people will start attending as word gets out among students, she added. Jessica Harris (graduate-edu cation) agrees, estimating any where from 300 to 450 students attended throughout the day. Though it is part of her require ments as a graduate student to help out with the festival. she has a very positive outlook about the event, especially for student involvement, she said. "That's one of the great things about the festival," she said. "Everybody is involved." Mohamed Magdy Taha, facili ties manager for the Cultural Center, has worked with the festi val for years. He views the festi- Please join us on March 18-19 from 9:3oam - 2:3opm to celebrate our Downtown State College Branch Gra Ore;iiii*k Get in tune with Graystone and enter to win' 1 of 10 FREE iTUNES GIFT CARD NEXT DAY FUNDS AVAILABILITY FREE UNLIMITED ATM TRANSACTIONS WORLDWIDE FREE ONLINE BANKING WITH BILL PAY FREE CHECK CARD WITH GREAT REWARDS' GRAYSTC)NE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010 13 By Chris Zook COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Jerilinn or Allison 329 East Beaver Avenue 814 206 0270 www.graysto!ebank.com val as a matter of high Minor tance for Penn State and the com munity he said. "We're so isolated here, - he said. "This is a very effective way to expose the community to other cultures.- The festival can otter partici pants and attendees more than they can learn in classes. Taha added. "Diversity is more than just reading books. - he said. The film series went trom noon until 8 p.m., featuring the movies - Born Into Brothels - and "The Agronomist" in the East Halls Cultural Lounge and - Zulu Love Letters" and "Rabbit Proot Fence - in Paul Robeson Cultural Center's Heritage Hall. Each tilts dealt with the hardships laced by those living in countries outside the United States. including Haiti and South Africa. Future events include a culture and politics discussion on Wednesday from I to 3 p.m. and a global bazaar on Thursday trom noon to 5 p.m. The festival will close with a hip-hop showcase on Friday that will feature break dancing, rap battles. and a RI Hero contest from (3:30 to tt:2.o p.m. All the events will occur in Heritage Hall. To e-mail reporter: cdzsooB@psu.edu
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