A potions ban causes Melody and other students to question the school’s jurisdiction. Disclaimer: no illegal substances were consumed during the course of the episode.

Melody

Hello Manticores! My name is Melody Martin and I’m here to report the latest happenings here at St. Merlinda’s. Tensions have heightened between students and faculty after a ban was put in place prohibiting the creation of potions outside of class projects. Faculty and staff members claim this ban is necessary for the protection of students to prevent the creation of potions that are dangerous or illegal. Students countered that the creation of potions on their own time is not the business of any faculty members as long as the potions aren’t being used in an illicit manner.

I’m not personally involved in this issue because I haven’t yet learned how to make potions, but I think I’d side with the students on this one. I appreciate that the faculty wants to keep students safe, but if someone was determined to create a harmful potion, I don’t think a ban would stop them. On the other hand, students that want to practice making safe potions won’t be able to. I know practicing on my own helped me a lot with my singing, so I expect it’s the same for people who enjoy making potions.

I tried to find out whether a specific incident caused this ban to be put in place, but I couldn’t find any information. If students have been able to make their own potions for years without problem, why start banning them now? It seems arbitrary. I suppose it would be better to implement the ban during the summer, when there are fewer students to complain about it, but that doesn’t mean the prohibition is justified.

The main defense for the faculty and staff is that the facilities belong to them and they should be able to dictate what happens within their school halls. But how far can these mandates extend? If the school tries to control when and where students can make potions, what’s to stop them from trying to control other parts of our lives? If their claim is that they should be able to control everything that happens on their property, what’s to stop them from randomly searching our dorm rooms to catch us doing things they don’t approve of?

Students, I urge you to take a stand. I believe that the staff members are acting in good faith, but we need to consider the long-term consequences of these types of policies. Perhaps you’re like me, and you’ve never even made a potion, but what if something you enjoy is banned in the future? If we fail to act, the staff here at St. Merlinda’s might think they can impose even more restrictions on us. It is only by speaking up and letting them hear our side that we can ensure our privacy and rights are protected.

My guest today is one of the students most affected by this policy. Before we get to that, however, I’d like to hear your views in the chatroom and answer any questions you might have.

Ketra Samuelson brings up an interesting point: Why are we making such a big fuss about the potions prohibition when flying has been banned for years?

Again, I can’t fly, but I understand the frustration for those who do. Honestly, I didn’t even know there was a flying prohibition. When I’m outside, I sometimes see other students flying, whether they have their own wings or are being aided by a broom.

Ketra is clarifying that the prohibition is like the one for potions, where flying is acceptable when monitored by a faculty member such as a mentor, but is banned outside of class activities.

My first thought is that flying can cause more danger than potions can. If someone flies yards into the sky and falls, they could break something, or even die – and the school will be held liable.

Immediately, Ketra has countered that some potions are dangerous enough to cause explosions or release deadly gases that could result in harm. Again, a good point.

Now Ketra is referencing the incident from last week, where my friend Sydney accidentally burned down the school gymnasium. Students filtered out of the gym before they could get hurt, but it would have been possible for the flames to scorch them. By allowing Sydney to attend classes, the faculty are exposing us to the risk she’ll accidentally set things on fire, by her own admission.

As fond as I am of Sydney, I can’t argue with that. Everything we do at this school involves risk in some way. Over half the students here possess powers that can hurt their classmates. So why is the staff prohibiting us from doing things that are no more dangerous than simply existing alongside these untrained students? I want to clarify I’m including myself in that description. If I decided to sing, and was unable to control my power, I could very well kill anyone in my vicinity. So who’s to say I’m any less dangerous than a student who wants to make a potion to temper their epilepsy?

The bottom line is that the school’s rules seem arbitrary and unjustified, and this follows a trend in the school’s administration. Other rules, such as the prohibition on magical parents at orientation night, are similarly heinous. We as students should speak up about these issues so the faculty and staff know we’re not satisfied with them. If we sit back and do nothing, who knows what kind of prohibition they’ll put in place next?

Back in the chatroom, Franko Agli has brought up a counterpoint. He’s allergic to myrrh, a common ingredient in potions, and is grateful that the staff has put in this prohibition to ensure myrrh is used less often. I sympathize with your allergy, Franko, I really do, but let me ask you something: Did you have a problem with myrrh being used by students in the past? As far as I’m aware, students mainly practiced potions in their own rooms, so it doesn’t seem like it would pose any more problem than a classroom would. It’s not as if the staff banned myrrh; they only banned its use outside of class activities.

Franko admits he never actually had such a problem and was merely happy to not have to worry about it. Again, I understand your discomfort with myrrh, Franko, but I don’t think this prohibition will be the solution to your problems. All it will do is impose an unnecessary restriction on your fellow students. They will still use myrrh, perhaps as much as before depending on the types of potions they made on their own time.

This seems like a great opportunity to bring in our guest for the day. I’ve invited Cody [redacted], a part-wizard who creates potions on his own time as preparation for starting his own line of potions to sell once he graduates next year. Welcome, Cody.

CODY

Sup?

MELODY

I was just talking about the ban on after-hours potion making. This will have a significant impact on you, won’t it?

CODY

Totally, man. It might even destroy my business. The school is really trying to get us down, you know? They should be supporting us.

MELODY

Agreed. But do you see any reasoning in the school’s argument? Are you aware of people creating dangerous potions?

CODY

What? No, man. No one would do that. It’s too much of a risk. I just create things to help people. You know, to help them feel better and just relax.

MELODY

Right…so you don’t think the school has any backing?

CODY

Definitely not. These potions are just to help people, you know? They’re great. I brought one with me for you to try. Take a sip.

MELODY

Oh….this isn’t anything illegal, is it?

CODY

No, no. It’s totally fine.

MELODY

All right. Well, here I go.

Hmm…that’s actually not bad. Woah. I can actually see a lot clearer now, and I thought my vision was 20/20 before.

CODY

See? Totally awesome. I want to make these types of potions for the world. Ones that help people, not hurt them.

MELODY

Honestly, when you first offered this to me, I thought it might make me too…mellow. You seem unusually calm.

CODY

Oh, that’s just the weed. I have some of that too if you want it.

MELODY

I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to decline. Also, be careful about mentioning that. It’s still illegal in this area.

CODY

That’s just in the human realm. Magical people don’t care. The laws are totally different here.

MELODY

That’s good to know…anyway, do you have any plans for countering the school’s new policy?

CODY

What? Oh…I hadn’t really thought about it. I try not to get too worked up.

MELODY

But you said it might destroy your business, right? Shouldn’t you be more proactive in fighting it?

CODY

I guess. I should probably do something.

MELODY

Right…have you considered a petition? That’s what we used to use at my old school.

CODY

Sure. That works.

MELODY

So…are you going to make one? Or should I?

CODY

I can do it, I guess.

MELODY

Wonderful. Well, it was great to have you on the show, Cody, and thanks for helping improve my vision. I really hope you can sell your potions in the future.

CODY

Yeah. That would be nice. Anyway, see ya.

MELODY

Now that Cody is gone, I want to remind everyone to be on the lookout for his petition. This is a vital issue that could affect our lives over the next few years, depending on how much longer you’ll be at this school. And even if you’re graduation soon, help advocate for the cause of privacy and personal rights. We’re all in this together. Until next week, Manticores, good night.