David Stuart Campanella
SSDP Board Application
The Basics
School: Radford University
Email: davidcampanella01@yahoo.com
Major(s) / Minor(s) / Areas of study: Criminal Justice, Criminology
Current year in school: 2nd Year grad student
Expected graduation year: 2012
What are your tentative plans after college?
To pursue a job with an agency or group devoted to drug policy reform, possibly SSDP, LEAP, MPP, SAFER, DPA, or NORML (in addition to other agencies not listed)
Leadership Experience
Describe your advocacy skills and experience. Include work outside of SSDP.
In addition to the foundation of a chapter of SSDP here at Radford University, I have worked closely with offenders at an internship I had with a probation office where I specifically dealt with drug offenders and their addictions to drugs. I felt that the criminal justice system was unable to help them curb their dangerous addictions and that our drug laws violated their civil rights and put them in positions that would not allow them to be contributable members of society.
At West Virginia university (my undergrad) I was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi men’s fraternity. I was active in alumni relations, recruitment, and philanthropy, amongst other things. This gave me experience working as a liaison between students and the administration. It also gave me interest in student affairs which I feel is a valuable resource in the area of drug policy reform, especially in an organization that deals with these issues at the student level.
How do you plan on balancing a busy schedule as a student, an SSDP activist, and a board member?
I plan on balancing a busy schedule the same way I have always balanced my schedule, by making certain amends and sacrifices. As much as people enjoy socializing with friends, going out, and working in school and other jobs, sometimes you must prioritize. I have made drug policy reform the most important part of my life because of the passion I have to be involved with it. For that reason, I have allowed myself to make time to research these issues and work closely with individuals at my school to better understand the issues involved with drug policy and work towards solutions. Simply put, I am able to make sacrifices and work towards a greater goal, which for me personally would be a career in which I am an advocate and leader for drug policy reform.
SSDP Chapter Experience
Founder and President of the Radford University Chapter January 2011: Currently we have about 6-8 permanent members but also have had many non-members attend and talk about issues with drug policy, including greek organizations, athletics, student affairs administrators, law enforcement officials, and professors
In April 2011, I held the first ever Open Forums on Drug Policy Issues at Radford University. Attendees talked about issues related to campus “strikes” policies, on campus drug violations for off campus behavior, a medical amnesty policy, the effectiveness of the drinking age, and drug education programs, amongst other issues.
I am currently working on two petitions that I hope to bring forth to the President of the University and her administration by the end of the school year. The first is the Amethyst initiative, which advocates the lowering of the drinking age from 21 to something more sensible for college students. And the second is a written law medical amnesty policy that encourages students to call for help if a friend has had too much to drink or used drugs and is in danger of being seriously injured or killed.
What formal positions have you held in your SSDP chapter? When?
I am formally the president for the 2011-2012 school year and informally hold many positions that we hope recruitment will allow us to branch out and give to others.
Describe your leadership style, particularly within your chapter.
My leadership style is very laid back. I work with a great group of students who have a great deal of opinions about drug policy reform. Leadership with a group such as SSDP is different than many organizations because we must recognize that the issue of drug use is difficult to bring up with many individuals at colleges and universities and beyond. I encourage our members to research topics and find scientifically supported facts about drug use, drug policy, and the war on drugs that will be less likely to be disputed by others. I am respectful with other university officials and students, especially with those who have no interest in drug policy reform or think in contra of our message and believe that drug policy as is is not too strict but rather too lenient (there have been several).
I am a firm believer in leading by example, but at the same time I am at a point where I am comfortable talking about adverse subjects as they relate to drug policy, including alternatives to prohibition and ending the war on drugs. I believe that if I can give as many people the confidence to speak openly about their beliefs in a professional manner we will better achieve our goals of drug policy reform, especially at the student level.
Describe one project that you led or are leading. What was/is your role? What has this project accomplished?
The biggest project I have embarked on as the leader of SSDP here at Radford University has been largely informal. I have advocated open and honest discussion about drug policy and how it relates to college students. I want the issues of drug policy to go beyond our predecessors who stopped at the notion that “drugs are bad” and that students should “just say no” and recognize that is simply not what occurs in our society anymore and that there is a need for change.
I accomplish this project by having tables, weekly meetings, and reaching out to friends and peers on social networking sites, as well as posting flyers and casually talking to professors, administrators, and university officials. I serve as an individual who is trying to get the issue out in the open as well as trying to train current and potential ssdp members on how to do the same. So far, it is difficult to judge the accomplishments of the project in itself, but I have gotten more people talking about the issue and I will continue to do so in the coming months and years after I graduate.
What fundraising or revenue building experience have you had in the past?
I have gotten us involved with local bars and nightclubs and tried to promote a drunk driving and responsible consumption campaign. Alcohol abuse on our campus has been a good middle ground because of all of the issues with drug policy (alcohol, in my opinion, being no exception to this), alcohol prevention appears to be the one I can get the largest group of individuals on board with. I am currently working with many of the over 25 local bars and restaurants on a key exchange program, designated driver rewards programs, and finding victims of drunk driving to come and speak in exchange for collecting 10% of the proceeds from sales. I have also looked into working concessions at local athletic events for a portion of the proceeds, but these often book up quickly for events at neighboring Virginia Tech and the lack of interest in Varsity sports at Radford University has also been a cause for concern. We have hosted bake sales and I have applied for grants that specifically deal with campus change (ex. Action Alliance Grant) which have been a source of some of our fund raising and revenue building success.
The Board
Why do you want to serve on the SSDP board?
I want to serve on the board because I am passionate about drug policy reform, drug awareness, addressing the issues of drug policy, and finding alternative solutions to the war on drugs, especially in how it affects college students (which I adamantly believe it does). I also believe I am a great leader and that I have the ability to inflict change through my words, my actions, and my passion for issues that I can express towards students, student groups, and college administrators, which is what I plan to do if elected to the board.
What do you believe are the board's most important functions?
Student advocacy is very important. Education and training of individuals who are passionate in drug policy reform is important as well. Like a university proclaims they are preparing students through education and development to become productive members of society, I think that the board should be educating and fostering the development of students who want to be active in drug policy reform and are going to adhere to the goals of drug policy reform as it relates to students.
The board should also serve as a liaison to its members and legislatures as well as university officials and administrators to better relations and work on solving the issues associated with drug policy effectively and objectively.
What are your goals for your board tenure (be as specific as possible)?
Be a leader to students and show students how to effectively bring the issues of drug policy in the open without fear of punishment, stigma, or retribution
Become a well spoken and hard working figure in the arena of drug policy reform so I can bring forward my ideas and beliefs in the interest of SSDP and our involvement in drug policy reform
Network with other drug policy reform groups to better manage and utilize resources for activities related to drug policy reform.
Effectively manage data, research, and resources to better serve chapters and SSDP in general
Get students involved in conferences, political events, the hiring of speakers to come to their universities, and drug awareness as it relates to drug policy reform
If elected to the board, would you retain a leading role and/or formal position with your chapter?
Yes, I feel that the position, if elected, would allow me to better serve my chapter and this university in general and will allow me to better help members and prospective members understand the inner workings of students for sensible drug policy and the issues that are at hand in regards to drug policy reform.
