The mood was high and bright at Cholmondeley's last Tuesday night, when Brandeis' chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), held its first coffeehouse. Students gathered to receive enlightening information from Dr. Keith Saunders of Northeastern University, who spoke about the political status of marijuana in America and the issues surrounding its legality. The audience then jammed out to music by Audiokio, Body Karate and the night's headliner, The Edition. The evening's blend of the personal and political played out nicely on Chum's floor.Dr. Saunders speech set the tone for the night. He spoke clearly and persuasively about the need for marijuana law reform in this country. He framed his argument around the idea that there are two kinds of knowledge about marijuana use: propagated and illicit.
Propagated knowledge is information about the drug articulated to citizens by the government, which posits that it is lethal, addictive and socially devastating.

Illicit knowledge, on the other hand, is held by those who "know where to buy it, how to grow it, how to smoke it, what it feels like."
Saunders' main argument was that as long as millions of Americans continue to smoke pot in spite of federal legislation there will always be another source of knowledge about the drug and a source of knowledge that will continue to contradict the propaganda.

The effects of this on our society and civil liberties were the most disturbing aspect of Saunders' speech. Huge sacrifices of our freedoms are made in the name of being "tough on drugs," including searches and seizures of property without a warrant, invasions of privacy, restrictions on free speech and other "mechanisms to silence those who think differently."
Saunders gave several compelling examples of these forces at work right now, including a law in the new Omnibus Spending Bill, stating that any public transit authority with federal funding will lose all of their grants if they allow advertisements for medical marijuana. Saunders urged Brandeis students to take up the cause, pointing out that all users of the drug engage in an act of civil disobedience by definition.
"So few social movements," he remarked, "are so easy to actively participate in."

After the speech, Audiokio (better known as Aaron Quint '05) took over, spinning tunes on the record player while students mingled on the dance floor in a decidedly un-Brandeisian atmosphere. The normally obstructive couches in the center of the room were moved to the sides, creating a more open space and lending Chum's a club-like feeling. The music was catchy, but not overbearing, providing just enough musical stimulation to enjoy oneself thoroughly and still be socially successful.
"It's social and schmoozy," Martha Mcniff Bull '07 said, "There's a general good vibe." Audiokio's songs like "Diverse" and a hot 50 Cent remix helped set that tone. His professional control over the turntable and striking presence in an eponymous sweatshirt and thick-framed glasses was a lively addition to the evening.

Schmoozing and socializing continued into the next set, with an unremarkable but endearing performance by Body Karate. John Bergwell '06, played some campy tunes on the guitar while Sara Tenenbaum '06, provided back-up vocals and a tambourine beat. Bergwell was charmingly self-derisive, asking for the vocals to be turned down because "[we] don't want to hear [his] voice any more than [he] does." That may have been the case, as Jane Partensky '06 commented, "They're not trying to blast out a Super Bowl show, more [like] sitting around the campfire."

The high point in the set came when Tenenbaum took the microphone for a solo, though she could've belted out with more confidence for even greater appeal. Bergwell ended the set with a call for the legalization of marijuana, and for "everyone else to go get high with him." Many undoubtedly complied.

Finishing off the night with a robust set was campus favorite The Edition, who jammed through six songs, including a fan-induced encore at the end. The show quickly livened up the pace at Chums with a great display of musical talent by all the band members. A dancing, jumping, hand-clapping, groove-moving group formed in front of the stage. On the couches and in the back, heads could be seen bobbing up and down as Tom Pernikoff '05 let loose with a series of escalating chords. Two songs into the set, fans began screaming for the popular song "Nuggets." Fast and upbeat, the song got students waving their arms and screaming. "Nuggets! Nuggets!" eager students shouted, in an ode to the theme of the night.

As the show continued, it became clear that all members of this band were deserving of praise. Phil Selesnick '05, the lead singer and keyboardist, provided impressive accompaniment on the keys and displayed strong vocal talent. Mike Park '05, on bass, kept the beat moving my feet the entire time. On the drums, sophmore Dan Germain of the Berklee School of Music gave it his all, pounding out the sounds with intensity. In total, The Edition is an impressive group whose distinctive sound and catchy lyrics were enjoyed by all in attendance.
Bright-eyed and jubilant, the smiling faces on the crowds leaving Chum's at the night's end were a testament to the evening's success. NORML's first coffeehouse proved informative and entertaining for all in attendance. It made a strong statement about the hypocrisy of some of our laws, and was an important first step for a club hoping to make its presence felt on campus. Judging from the turnout at Tuesday's event, we may be hearing a lot more from NORML as the semester goes on.