PotShot

Ex-Massey student banned from uni
MICHAEL CUMMINGS | Manawatu Standard | 19 March 2006

A former Massey University student says he has been barred from campus after being spotted in a car sporting a marijuana leaf paintjob.

Sayeed Wahab was a passenger in his flatmate Grant Dyer's car when the pair drove on to the property about 2pm on Wednesday.

The car, which has a paint job featuring marijuana leaves, was immediately pulled over by police, Mr Wahab says.

The pair say they were not speeding or driving dangerously, and believe they were stopped because of the marijuana image on the vehicle.

Two police officers spoke to the men before returning to the police car to make inquiries, Mr Wahab says.

They came back with two trespass notices printed on Massey University letterheads banning the men from the property for two years. The notices, obtained by the Manawatu Standard, were authorised by the university's manager of security and traffic, Phil Taylor.

Mr Taylor would not speak to the Manawatu Standard. However, communications manager James Gardiner said the order was issued by police on the university's behalf and with Mr Taylor's approval.

"In the circumstances, approval was given based on information received from the police. We understand that each person was told that they could contact the head of security and provide further information if the recipients considered the notices should be revoked. We have not heard from the people concerned."

Mr Gardiner would not give a reason for the men's banning and campus police refused to comment.

Mr Wahab says he was furious at the trespass order.

His father is a researcher and part-time lecturer at Massey, he attended the university up until 2004 studying for a sports degree, and has coached the Massey reserve soccer team.

"It's just absolutely ridiculous," Mr Wahab says.

"I'm furious about it. My dad works there, I play soccer up there, I've done so much for soccer at Massey, it's just unbelieveable.

"I'll get to the bottom of this. There are so many times I have to go up there for so many reason, I just can't deal with a trespass notice."

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Carl Sagan Goodness Richard Dawkins Goodness

Buzzby

I hope this one plays out in the press so we can see what happens. If it stays as-is, the question is "What can you display without being banned from campus?" Would a marijuana leaf charm on a bracelet be enough? A marijuana leaf logo on a hat? A t-shirt with a leaf?

New Zealand, BTW, has the highest percentage of it's population using marijuana of any country in the world. The establishment must really be running scared!

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