By Suzanne Edwards Source: Daily Texan Texas -- Today is the last day for students to show support for a referendum calling for UT to reduce penalties for the use and possession of marijuana. A local branch of the public education group Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation has been collecting signatures since mid-January to place the referendum on the upcoming student election ballot. The referendum asks that the University's punishment for the use and possession of marijuana be no more severe than the punishment for illegal drinking, because the effects of alcohol are more dangerous than the effects of marijuana, said Ann Del Llano, SAFER Austin coordinator. The University drug policy states that UT will impose a minimum disciplinary penalty of suspension for a specified period of time or suspension of rights, privileges or both for the use, possession or distribution of drugs prohibited by state, federal or local law, according to the UT Web site. Punishment for alcohol-related incidents will be imposed for "conduct related to the unlawful use" of alcohol, according to the Web site. Juan Gonzales, UT vice president for student affairs, declined to comment Monday. The referendum that SAFER is advocating would end the differences in severity of punishment. "We really feel the need to stress the harmful effects of alcohol. When people are dying, the University needs to take it seriously," Del Llano said, referring to the December death of Phanta "Jack" Phoummarath. Phoummarath, a UT freshman, was found dead from alcohol poisoning at the Lambda Phi Epsilon fraternity house the day after a party at the house. The fraternity was suspended as a registered student organization for six years. Phoummarath's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the fraternity. SAFER has to collect 861 valid student signatures by 4 p.m. today, or the referendum will not be added to the ballot. SAFER originated on the campuses of University of Colorado at Boulder and Colorado State University after two Colorado students died from alcohol poisoning in January 2005. UT students took interest at the Drug Policy Conference in Long Beach, Fla., in November, Del Llano said. Note: Group asks students to vote to lessen action against possessors. Source: Daily Texan (TX Edu) Author: Suzanne Edwards Published: February 7, 2006 Copyright: 2006 Daily Texan Contact: editor@dailytexanonline.com Website: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/ Link to article: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21573.shtml