David Borden, Executive Director
David Borden is founder and Executive Director of StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network. Borden played the leading role in pioneering use of the Internet for education and organizing in drug policy reform after founding DRCNet in late 1993. Since 2000 he has overseen DRCNet's work on the Higher Education Act Reform Campaign, an effort to repeal a federal law that denies students financial aid because of drug convictions, and he has initiated programs including the John W. Perry Fund scholarship program and the Out from the Shadows international conference series. In August 2003, Borden sent an open letter to the District of Columbia's chief judge, Rufus G. King, explaining his decision to refuse to report for jury service as a protest of the drug war, an action which was covered by the Washington Post. Borden has written over 160 editorials on drug policy, and publishes DRCNet's Prohibition in the Media blog. He earned an A.B. with honors in Astrophysical Sciences from Princeton University in 1988, and completed an M.M. in Jazz Composition from New England Conservatory in 1990. He is a native of Englewood, New Jersey, one of the first communities in the state to achieve racial integration in its school system. Borden is also a member of the Boards of Directors of Common Sense for Drug Policy, the Flex Your Rights Foundation and the International Anti-Prohibitionist League, and of the Students for Sensible Drug Policy Council of Advisors.
David A. Guard, Associate Director
David A. Guard, DRCNet's Associate Director, is a graduate of Gettysburg College (B.A. in Political Science, 1993) and The American University (Master of Public Policy, 1999). His career interest in drug policy reform developed during his graduate studies in courses at the Department of Justice, Law and Society within AU's renowned School of Public Affairs, particularly while under the tutelage of Professor Arnold Trebach, Esq., founder of the Drug Policy Foundation. Prior to joining DRCNet's staff, he was Project Manager at The Criminal Justice Policy Foundation where he worked closely with Eric E. Sterling, Esq. Guard has appeared on ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, and NBC; has been featured in newspapers and on radio all over the country; and has presented at conferences, universities, and The National Press Club. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Flex Your Rights Foundation, a member of the Students for Sensible Drug Policy Council of Advisors, and was initiated into the Nu Psi chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society.
Scott Morgan, Associate Editor
Scott R. Morgan is a graduate of Guilford College (B.S. in Criminal Justice, 2003) where he received Senior Honors in the Justice and Policy Studies Department. While at Guilford, he assistant taught JPS 450: Drugs, Crime, and Criminal Justice, and served as a Judicial Advocate for the college Judicial Board, frequently representing students charged with substance abuse violations on campus. Prior to joining DRCNet's staff, he completed internships with the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation and the Flex Your Rights Foundation, and he also currently works at Flex Your Rights.
Phillip S. Smith, Writer/Editor
Phillip S. Smith is a graduate of the University of South Dakota (BA Political Science, 1979) and the University of Texas at Austin (MA Latin American Studies, 1989), and served as writer and Associate Editor at the magazine Covert Action Quarterly from 1993-1996. Phil has done freelance reporting on Central American and Mexico since the 1980s, and has had articles published in In These Times, Guardian (now defunct), New Politics and many other publications. He is also a long time drug policy activist, having helped to found one of the first NORML chapters in the state of South Dakota. He has been involved in local drug reform efforts in Austin, TX and Washington, DC, including the DC Metro chapter of NORML.
