Culture News Blog

It was a first for Hamilton high schoolers. For three hours on Oct. 17, an auditorium filled with students was able to discuss issues facing teens - live on the radio - unscripted and unedited for all to hear.

900 CHML talk show host Jamie West organized specific panels to answer the student's questions. The first group consisted of media and police.

Hamilton police chief Brian Mullan faced an onslaught of requests to legalize marijuana.

One student, Alex, insisted alcohol is a bigger problem than pot smoking.

"You don't hear about fights or stabbings outside of places like Up In Smoke (a downtown cannibus cafe), the violence and crime happens at bars and nightclubs where people are drinking," he said.

Students lined up at the microphone for the chance to have their say. When the panel began to discuss parental supervision, the youthful audience agreed they need parents home after school because "that's when kids do drugs and surf the net." They also felt parents should offer more discipline instead of trying to be their kid's friend.

The panelists and listeners mentioned being impressed and surprised by the depth of questions and how thoughtful the students were when it came to issues about drugs, politics and pop culture.

Host Jamie West and other panelists admitted the show was risky because it was live radio, but it was the first time this many students had the opportunity to make their voices heard to the greater community.

"I am hoping to make this an annual event," said Mr. West.

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