Re: Petote suspected in death of ASU student
lmugrad@imap1.asu.edu
Thu, 4 May 1995 13:18:12 -0700
I thought all you should know what a Phoenix
publication, THE NEW TIMES, wrote in their May 4 issue. All those in the
area should pick it up and read it. I wish I can provide copies to all
interested but unfortunately I can't. I will however provide a synopsis.
On August 22, 1994, ASU student Kimberly Nilson dissappeared from
her Apartment. A nationwide search began. Unfortunately, her remains were
discovered in the desert last months. Family and friends suspect foul
play. Maricopa county officials (Tempe and Scottsdale PD) have begun to
suspect that the culpert might be Peyote.
The article points out that even though Kimberly Nilson was
popular and sure of herself, her diary points to a young women looking
for life's answers through New Age methods. It was reported that she
asked her friends how she can get a hold of some peyote. The author of
the article mentions the psychosematic(?) effects of peyote. He mentions
primarily the drug nature and effects of peyote [my interpretation]. He
does mention the use of peyote in the Native American Church, once I
believe. He describes the effects of peyote in order to correspond
Kimberly's peculiar behavior as described by her friends who saw her the
day and night before her disapperance. Her car was found neatly parked in
the driveway of a stranger with none of her items missing and no signs of
a struggle. The authors postulates that being under the influence of
peyote she may have gone into the desert and succumb to the 100+ August
temperatures.
This is how I interpreted the article. After the hard fighting
Indigenous go through to have their "religion" (spirituality) included
under the 1st Amendment where it should have been in the first place,
peyote is being blamed for the death of a young women. I do not know
about you but I am P.O. at the way the article what written and its
implications.
Nick Tapia "It is better to die on your feet
Graduate Student, History than to live on your knees."
Arizona State University ---Emiliano Zapata
lmugrad@imap1.asu.edu