By Aaron Stoner
Civic Engagement Week is underway at Grand Rapids Community College with student events scheduled all week including a panel discussion on the legalization of marijuana ballot proposal.
This Wednesday, Sept. 19 a discussion, hosted by GRCC Student Life, will include a panel of four experts who will direct a discussion involving the marijuana ballot proposal. The event will take place from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m in the multipurpose room on the Student Center’s second floor, with time provided for student questions.
Panel members will include:
- Sandy Dettmann, addiction medicine specialist and director of the Dettmann Center.
- Paul Farage, a Grand Rapids Junior College alumnus and owner of the Society of Healing Arts Institute.
- Joslin Monahan, a lawyer and volunteer with the American Civil Liberties Union.
- Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker.
GRCC Director of Student Life and Conduct Lina Blair explained how the event is a great opportunity for attendees to gain a better understanding of what exactly the proposal entails.
“We hope students can become more knowledgeable about the topic and feel educated when they vote on November 6,” Blair said. “It’s going to be a very respectful environment and also just an opportunity for respectful civic engagement through conversation.”
Blair is directing students who can’t make the discussion to go to http://subjectguides.grcc.edu/Vote to get more information.
Opportunities for GRCC students to get registered to vote will also be available throughout the week and event organizers hope that by week’s end, students will come away with a greater sense of citizenship.
