Trombley is a third-year geography student.
By Chris Trombley
UCLA offers many opportunities to fulfill one’s sense of
ambition, but the best memories are the ones that make a lasting
impression on the mind. My first year at school taught me many
things about standards, diversity of life and the different ways
people pursue happiness. Most of all, this institution has taught
me tolerance, not so much of people who look or act differently,
but of people who think differently.
There are over 35,000 people on this campus, all of whom grew up
in various places with different kinds of teachers. The diversity
of life experiences creates an environment with a wide variety of
thoughts and opinions on any subject. And it is through our
acceptance of this fact that we can open our minds to the ideas of
others, even when we do not agree with their views.
April 20 is a perfect example of this. To many, marijuana is
something with very negative connotations and consequences. In the
early 1930s, Hearst newspapers initiated open attacks on cannabis
claiming unsubstantiated facts, which created a public backlash
against marijuana. In 1937, it was classified as a narcotic and
subjected to strict government control. It has since been deemed
wrong by many and even evil by extremists.
But many others continue to illegally use pot. They find the
relaxing effects of the drug to be soothing and enjoyable, and will
usually exercise moderation when deciding to smoke.
And of course there are those in the middle who do not have
strong opinions either way as to what people do with their own
bodies. This type of tolerance is represented by “420,”
along with the right to display your own opinions.
 Illustration by KRISTEN GILLETTE/Daily Bruin For one day
all the marijuana smokers, students, TAs, teachers and university
officials alike venture out to sit on the bright green lawn in
front of Kerckhoff to enjoy a beautiful spring day with hundreds of
friends and bags and bags of the best chronic this country can
produce.
If you have seen this event before, it is a vision you can
hardly forget. Over 300 fellow Bruins sit packed together, red-eyed
and laughing, while an enormous cloud of white, skunk-like smoke
hangs overhead. Students from all walks of life sit on the grass
talking, gazing at passers-by and of course, inhaling large amounts
of sticky, sticky greens.
Every single person on that hill feels the awe of obviously
smoking ganja right in the middle of campus. And everyone comes
prepared.
Some tote plush bags, which open to reveal $300 color changing
glass bongs with dual chambers and anti-lock brakes. Conventional
smokers burn finger sized joints and “Garcia y Vega”
blunts until their index fingers have third degree burns.
My favorite is the gas mask, which uses a tube coming out of the
mouthpiece connected to an acrylic bong. When the smoker was asked
last year where he bought his gas mask he responded, “Rrffmph
nrmph gowlif.” Its difficult to speak while wearing a gas
mask.
On the lawn, every race, gender and sexual orientation is
represented while participants enjoy a day away from the stress of
school, girlfriends, boyfriends, parents and, of course, police.
And the best part is no one seems to mind.
Most of the non-participants walk idly by and giggle about
“a funny smell” or just don’t even notice the
giant plume of smoke engulfing the campus. But for the
participants, the day is as perfect as they come.
The only facet of “420” I am consistently displeased
with are the annoying speakers who take it upon themselves to speak
for the whole group about how pot being illegal violates our
individual rights. These few would yell and scream about how we
need to stand up and protest this travesty. Such nonsense is
ridiculous and does not correspond to the theme of the day.
We make our statement by sitting in a public place and doing the
illegal thing we love to do. This is not the day to fight the
powers that be and start a revolt against prohibition. Save the
protests for another day and come rip this bong, “mon
ami.”
I must say, it does seem weird that we can sit on campus and
smoke bowl after bowl without any CSO rent-a-cop or university
official coming out to disperse the crowd. And this is exactly the
reason this day is so revered.
It’s a UCLA counterculture tradition that is amazing in
and of itself, much like Midnight Yell. Unfortunately, the 5-0 have
taken that tradition away from us, perhaps even for a good reason
(flaming beds are entertaining, but not exactly safe). But they
have yet to infringe on this event and, God willing, it will stay
that way. Tolerance is an enormous concept and I am ecstatic to
attend a school that uses it in such a positive manner.
So, when Friday comes, don’t get mad because people are
doing something illegal or against your beliefs. Be excited that
when you want to demonstrate your beliefs and opinions, you have an
open forum on this campus to do so.
And for the rest, come relax with me ““ I’ll be the
one wearing the gas mask.