Chapter Spotlight: Kalamazoo College
Dan Mitler of Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan
SSDP Kalamazoo College is engaged in a few different campaigns around campus and around town. On campus, we’re challenging misinformation and providing accurate information, through flyers, announcements and the Drug Information Resource Center in partnership with our campus Health Center. We’re attempting to establish a Drive Safe program which will offer students a safe and sober ride home on weekends to prevent driving under the influence.
We're also working with the administration and student government to address what we see as problematic and punitive campus alcohol and drug policies. To this end, we've established a Good Samaritan Policy, which protects those who call for medical help in an alcohol related emergency.
On a broader level, we're trying to get conversations started among the residents of our community by hosting events such as a Cinco de Mayo demonstration and a debate between SSDP Executive Director, Kris Krane, and prohibitionist Kevin Sabet. We've been able to get some decent media coverage of these events.
Since Kalamazoo is located half way between Chicago and Detroit along the I-94 corridor, it has a large population of injecting drug users, which means an even larger population of people at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.
Because of our proximity to this population, we're working to not only change some outdated city ordinances that prohibit syringe exchange program, but also identify sites and funding in order to establish a syringe exchange program.
- Dan Mitler, Kalamazoo College
