University and city officials are concerned that when the smoke clears from the Diag after the annual Hash Bash event this year on April 5, trash will remain.
But despite some original monetary problems when the University asked organizers to pay a deposit to fund the trash clean-up, Hemp A2 hopes to get a permit for the rally today. LSA senior Ed Tayter, president of Hemp A2, said he is satisfied with the current plan, but wishes the process to get the permit could have been avoided.
The University originally told Hemp A2, this year's primary campus organizer of Hash Bash, they were required to pay a security deposit of $1,500 for costs incurred from cleaning up after the rally. This amount, plus an additional $200 for electrical fees for the speakers and up to $1,500 more in additional clean-up costs, caused some degree of turmoil among the event organizers.
"We are in contact with lawyers," Tayter said. "No other campus organization is asked to make a security deposit before a rally to cover clean-up costs. I believe that (the National Women's Rights Organizing Coalition) got the same permit we're requesting for $98."
Hash Bash has been an annual event in Ann Arbor since April 1972. Originally a celebration of a local code that penalized violators of marijuana possession laws with only a $5 fine, the rally has developed into an event intended "to encourage people to be aware of what the government is doing and to promote decriminalization of marijuana violations," Tayter said.
The University asks all student groups that hold rallies to respect the location where the event is held.
"We say to every group that they should leave the space in the condition in which they found it," said Lisa Baker, associate vice-president for University relations.
Although most organizers of Diag rallies don't have to pay a clean-up fee deposit, Hash Bash has a history of large clean-up costs, Baker said. The University estimates that over the past few years, expenses have totaled about $3,000 annually.
"My understanding is that Hemp A2 will be responsible for doing the clean-up of all litter left by (Hash Bash) participants," Baker said. "If the sponsoring group does all the clean-up and the University decides on Sunday that no additional clean-up is necessary, the University will completely refund the deposit."
Ann Arbor city officials said they aren't pleased that Hash Bash has become a local tradition.
"Needless to say, we feel it is an activity that doesn't promote a good image of the community," said Mayor Ingrid Sheldon. Sheldon also said it is already difficult to teach children the dangers of legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, much less illegal drugs like marijuana, especially when these drugs are celebrated at public events like Hash Bash.
Although Hemp A2 organizers said Hash Bash also is intended to address the political issue of marijuana legalization, some University students said they see Hash Bash as more of a social event.
"I'm definitely looking forward to it, but I don't think it's about marijuana legalization issues," LSA first-year student Rebecca Ewing said. "It's more of just an excuse to get high."