McCain threatens drug tests for baseball

JILLIAN MILAM STAFFWRITER JGM726@CABRINI EDU

If, by January, there is not a severe crackdown on steroid usage by baseball players, Senate Commerce Committee Chariman John McCain said on Friday that he would instigate legislation inflicting drug-testing procedures on professional athletes. Under this warning, Major League baseball promised to act upon more rigorous drug tests. Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig mentioned that the league and the players' union had been making progress on a stricter drug policy, according to washingtonpost.com.

As I express astonishment in my successes as of yet, the student is not the least bit surprised.

“For the most part, it takes about 5 minutes to get drugs on campus. Just make a phone call and take a walk to one of the houses.” The junior does not think that this accessibility is a concern. “I don’t think our campus is any different than any other college campus. There’s not much to do around here so it’s kind of like ‘Okay…let’s get stoned,’” the student said.

House 4, 8:55 p.m.

I walk down a hall to find two students that are unable to provide for me. “I don’t do drugs, but try two doors down and you’ll probably find something,” the student said. On my way, I

9:04 p.m.

Damn.

They estimate that more than half of the students living in House 5 habitually use illegal drugs, but “don’t think that it’s out of control.” One of the students points out that even though no one in the house sells drugs, it doesn’t hinder their ability to obtain anything that they want.

“If it’s not a phone call away, it’s a house away,” one of the students said.

House 6, 9:09 p.m.

I enter a room in close, extremely close, proximity to the RA’s room. I deliver my spiel concentrating on the RAlogo displayed on the door.

Irony.

“It’d take about ten minutes, but it’d be there,” the student said.

9:10 p.m.

Holla.

House 7, 9:14 p.m.

Rumsfeld remains in the pentagon

Administration aides said on Friday that President Bush has decided to keep Donald H. Rumsfeld as defense secretary for a second term. After facing calls for his resignation this past summer due to the mistreatment of Iraqis at the Abu Ghraib military prison, Republicans said it would be a mistake to replace him. They believed it would appear to be an allowance for administrations to make wrong decisions in Iraq. At age 72, he is the oldest Pentagon chief in America's history, according to washingtonpost.com.

Stagnate search forBin Laden

The search for Osama bin Laden has been inactive with no recent knowledge indicating where he or his top leaders are hiding, according to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf also suggested that the United States is in partially at fault due to the fact that we do not have enough troops in Afghanistan. Challenges in Afghanistan would be better dealt with "if the Afghan national army is raised faster, in more strength, so that they can reach out to fill these voids that I am talking about, where U.S. forces or coalition forces are not there," he said, according to washingtonpost.com.

21 Iraqis by insurgents' attacks stop another student. No dice.

I advance toward the suggested abode and propose my inquiry. The student opens a drawer and tosses a small bag of marijuana onto the desk.

8:59 p.m.

Nuff’said.

This student feels that drug use on campus is far from being a problem. “Alot of people smoke on occasion. It’s not that big of a deal,” the student said. This junior says that if a student has a drug problem, it’s obvious to those around them. “If your friends aren’t noticing then it’s not that bad,” the student said.

House 5, 9:04 p.m.

I mosey along the walkway, eyeing up two students on the front steps of the house. “So, I’m looking for something, would either of you be able to help me out?” I said.

“What kind of drugs?” one said.

The door of the house shuts behind me, followed by desperate pounding. I turn around to see three students eagerly awaiting my generosity. I acknowledge that if they belonged in the house, they wouldn’t need my assistance; after all, how many Loquitur stories have been written about propping doors. Nonetheless, the release bar of the door collides into my hand.

My bad.

“Yo, do you have a blunt?” one of the students asked, directing the question towards me.

“Do you have any drugs?” I said.

“I will in a minute,” the student said. The trio continues on their way as I stake out a transaction of my own—this student is more than willing to help me out.

9:15 p.m.

Boo yah.

The senior confesses that she is not impressed with the drug scene at Cabrini. “Compared to other schools, it’s not bad at all. I actually expected it to be worse,” the student said.

CAC, 9:25 p.m.

I enter an apartment and speak my piece to the four students before me. The answer is unanimous; yes.

17 civilians died when insurgents attacked them at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday near the north-central city of Tikrit, officials said. Occupants of two cars opened fire as they were just about the get off a bus taking them to work. Asecond attack occurred around 9:30 a.m. in northern Iraq. Acar comb killed four Iraqi security personnel, while about 18 other civilians were wounded. The attacks were the latest attempts by insurgents to disrupt the country's scheduled Jan. 30 elections. Iraqi interim government officials have said they will hold the elections as planned, according to cnn.com.

Doctors urge caution fornew drug

Rimonabant, a new drug that supposedly sheds pounds, helps people become uninterested in fattening foods. It is supposed to make you lose weight mainly in the abdominal area, while lessening any cravings for alcohol or nicotine. However, researchers say that there is no reasonable explanation for how it works. Rimonabant has been approved for sale in the United States or anywhere else, due to the fact that it has not been submitted for Food and Drug Administration's approval. Sanofi-Aventis, the company who discovered this drug, plans on applying early next year, according to nytimes.com.

9:25 p.m.

Oh snap.

The students estimate that at least 75 percent of the residents in the CAC use some sort of illegal drug. “At anytime of the day they’ll be stoned out of their mind. It doesn’t faze them,” one of the students said. The roommates agree that alcohol is a much larger problem than drug use on campus. “There hasn’t been any hospital visits due to drugs. There has been for alcohol though,” another student said.

While returning to the newsroom from my Cabrini cartel expedition, I figured I’d give it one last shot.

Founder’s Hall, 9:39 p.m.

I walked into a classroom of students and with noticeable volume addressed my needs.

“I can get you drugs,” one student said.

“What do you need?” another said.

9:40

12 for 12.