"The Complicated Legacy of Harry Anslinger"
Year: 2018
Award Level: Silver
Award Winner(s): Pennsylvania State University
Award: Circle of Excellence
Category: Writing | Feature Writing
About the entry
A historical feature article in the Penn State alumni magazine about a little-known alumnus who played a significant and controversial role in the U.S. war on drugs from the 1930s through the 1960s, and whose work has relevance to drug policy today.
From the Judges' Report
The magazine and the writer did a wonderful job delving into the history of Harry Anslinger, a Penn State alumnus, and a kind of Eliot Ness figure who was responsible for demonizing marijuana in American culture. This piece grapples with Anslinger’s polarizing legacy, while still showcasing that he played an important role in the history of the country and the school.