The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: Opinions

AbNORML hearing

NORML at UGA is not being subjected to the same policies as other organizations.

The saga continues.

Tuesday evening, the University chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws had its first formal hearing with the student judiciary.

The student organization was contacted by the Office of Legal Affairs in January claiming its logo - an illustration of a bulldog smoking a joint while studying under the arch - was a trademarked image and NORML must remove the image from its Web site immediately.

NORML removed the image, but was given two options: Sign an informal resolution admitting wrongdoing and taking up to a year of probation as punishment or proceed to a formal hearing.

The group took the latter. We don't blame it.

This town is full of bulldog references. If Legal Affairs wants to claim trademark infringement on its beloved bulldog, we suggest it contact the following businesses to evaluate their logos: Bulldog Taxi, Bulldog Pizza, Bulldog Car Wash, Utage Sushi Bar for its "Spicy Bulldog Roll," Bulldawg Lawn Care and Kroger - for the scary bulldog statue they display every football season.

We believe the sole reason the University is claiming trademark infringement is because the logo involves marijuana.

Let us not forget the University approved NORML at UGA as a University organization - this means that it can be allocated University funding if it needs it. We believe this gives the group even more of a right to satirize a University subject.

Let us not forget the First Amendment.

- Chelsea Cook for the editorial board

High standards

Mark Fox has a lot to live up to, but our coaches set some astonishing examples.

Mark Fox, welcome to the club. And what a prestigious one it is.

The Georgia collective coaching staff is arguably the best in the nation, no matter what the sport.

Head gymnastics coach Suzanne Yoculan has won nine NCAA team titles - the last four are consecutive, and she's shooting for her fifth this year.

Men's tennis coach Manuel Diaz has won four NCAA team titles in the last 10 years, including the last two years.

Swimming and diving coach Jack Bauerle served as the head coach of the U.S. women's national team in Beijing in August, and the swim and dive teams routinely finish among the top in the nation.

Women's basketball coach Andy Landers has 807 career wins, fourth all-time behind Pat Summitt, Jody Conradt and C. Vivian Stringer.

Baseball coach David Perno has led his team to the College World Series in Omaha four times since 2001, and the team was the national runner-up in 2008.

And head football coach Mark Richt has won at least 10 games in a season six times in his eight years as head coach and has won the Sugar Bowl twice.

Need we continue?

If Fox is able to make Georgia basketball a contender in the SEC and an NCAA Tournament team, then Georgia's ascension to the Olympus of coaching will be complete.

Because otherwise, there always will be that little void.

- Michael Fitzpatrick for the editorial board

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