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Editor:
I am quite concerned after reading the article "Drug-related arrests up since '90, but abuse uncommon, health educator says," printed in the "Family Weekend" supplement Friday, Oct. 25, 1996. It seems as if a university employee, Daniel Reilly, health educator in the Campus Health Service, is condoning the use of illegal substances. Decide for yourself as I quote him in the article saying, "Most students are healthy and use (drugs or alcohol) in levels that present low risks and most suffer no negative consequences." Quoting the Wildcat which paraphrases Mr. Reilly, "When caught drinking underage or with an illegal drug, Reilly said students are not 'bad' ... Reilly added that drug use is not good or bad, but a personal decision."
Whooooa! Wait a minute here! Breaking the law is not bad? I seriously hope that the Wildcat misquoted you, otherwise it frightens me to know that a health educator like yourself thinks it is OK to break the law as long as you don't hurt yourself.
Mr. Reilly, we have laws in this country for a reason. They are here to maintain order and to be used as guidelines for how we are to live responsibly and safely. As an educator, it is your responsibility to teach students that breaking the law is not a "personal" preference as you say it is. I know it is hard to abide by the laws when we have a crooked administration in the White House, which does not abide by the law and gets away with it. But that is your job as an educator, and if you don't like it maybe you should find a new profession. You would be a prime candidate for a position in the White House Cabinet should Clinton get re-elected.
Scott J. Altherr
hydrology and water resources junior
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