Heicklen's 'joint' not confiscated

During the third of his now-weekly "joint"-smoking protests, Professor Emeritus Julian Heicklen said yesterday he will try something new next week to get his point across.

"We'll meet across the street next week to see what the State College (Police Department) will do," Heicklen said, adding that meeting there would put the protest out of jurisdiction of University Police Services and into the jurisdiction of State College police.

"We would enforce the law fairly if there's a violation," said Sgt. John Wilson of State College police.

For the past few weeks, Heicklen has smoked a "joint" of what he claims is marijuana in front of University Gates in an attempt to get arrested and nullify the state's anti-marijuana laws.

University police officers were present at the protest from the beginning, and as Heicklen lit the "joint," the police asked him to hand over his cigarette. Heicklen ignored the officers.

University police officers acted very politely, Heicklen said, adding that he thinks their manners are a result of the complaint he filed with the district attorney.

Heicklen said that during last week's protest the University police "stole" his cigarette, so he filed a complaint against the officers involved.

"The officer was seizing what he believed to be evidence," said Director of University Police Services Thomas Harmon. "If it is marijuana, it is subject to be taken by police."

However, this time, the officers did not confiscate the cigarette.

"We did not take the cigarette. Heicklen refused to give it up, and we didn't want to cause confrontation," said Clifford Lutz, University police supervisor.

Heicklen said he was surprised he has not been arrested yet.

"I have no idea what the State College police will do. We know what the campus police will do," Heicklen said. "I've made a lot of predictions so far, and they've all been wrong."

Heicklen said he will return each week until an arrest is made.

Some of the 150 spectators at the protest yesterday said they were confused by the actions by the University police as well.

"The police are kind of funny that they just took (last week's cigarette) and walked away," said Dave Miller (sophomore-communications). "It is good that he is getting special treatment (from the police) because it shows the inequality (of enforcement.)"

Seven people joined Heicklen's protest by smoking, he said.

"Everything went swimmingly well," Heicklen said. "We passed around joints, and I probably smoked four or five different joints. I don't know what was in them."

In response to the University police's findings about last week's cigarette, Heicklen said he invited others to trade cigarettes with him to prove he was smoking marijuana.

Not all of the observers supported others joining Heicklen's protest.

The University's chapter of National Organization of Reform of Marijuana Laws supports Heicklen's efforts but does not advocate others to join him, said Ben Norman, president of NORML.

"Anyone who chooses to smoke marijuana as a protest must be aware of the risk," Norman said. "However, we support professor Heicklen's spirit, courage and dedication."