NOTES

Higher Ed

U. Mass. town votes in favor of legalizing pot

Amherst, Mass., which houses a campus of the University of Massachusetts, passed a non-binding referendum last week that opposes all federal and state bans on marijuana. The proposal encourages state and federal legislatures to overturn laws forbidding marijuana.

A city clerk said the voting results from two precincts located on campus was 192 to seven in favor of the proposal. The overall results were 1,659 to 981 in favor of the proposal. About 20 percent of registered voters participated in the elections.

The Cannabis Reform Coalition at the university went door to door telling people about the issue. Group president Vern Coffey said the issue passed at all of the city's 12 precincts.

Amherst also houses Amherst College and Hampshire College.

Coffey said the group plans on e-mailing various lawmakers about the referendum's results.

Iowa House votes to cut spending

Students from Iowa State University, University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa protested budget cuts last week at the state Capitol, in Des Moines.

Wearing shirts that read "It takes common cents to support higher education," students rallied to express their disapproval of the $13.8 million budget cuts made by the Iowa House of Representatives.

The bill, which now goes to the Iowa Senate, passed 55-41 March 29.

University of Iowa's student government president-elect Andy Stoll said the cuts may encourage state residents to attend universities outside of Iowa.

OSU trade, service union approves possible strike

The union representing Ohio State University's janitors, electricians and other trade and service workers voted last week to strike if their demands are not met by the university by the end of April. The Communications Workers of America Local 4501 want a two dollar an hour wage increase and more chances for job advancement.

Ninety-two percent of the union's membership voted in favor of the possible strike. The union said 25 percent of its members make less than eight dollar an hour. It also claimed some of its workers face safety risks such as touching biohazardous material at the university's hospitals.

OSU spokeswoman Elizabeth Conslick said the union's contract with the university ended last Friday but negotiations are continuing. The next meeting is scheduled for April 11.

Conslick said the union's wage demands are one of the main points of disagreement between the two parties.

Duke Website pulls April Fools' prank

The Duke Basketball Report also presented a holiday prank. The privately run Website reported that a popular tent area outside the men's basketball stadium was being shut down by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The co-director of the Website said some people thought that the EPA created the prank and that the Website was fooled.

- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Robert Gold.