For security reasons, the curtains had to be drawn over the large windows in Big Ten Room B of Kellogg Center.

U.S. Marshals were stationed around the room, keeping an eye out for suspicious activity.

And if anyone wanted to speak with John Walters, the U.S. drug czar, before or after his speech Saturday afternoon, they had to get security clearance.

But heightened security measures because of the war in Iraq didn't deter about 200 James Madison College students, faculty and alumni from taking in Walters' speech titled "How Madison College Taught Drug Control Policy."

A 1974 Madison alumnus, Walters returned to campus as part of the college's 35th anniversary celebrations over the weekend.

Walters, whose official title is United States Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said getting into a career in politics was "accidental." He originally had planned on becoming a college professor when he left East Lansing.

A friend called from Washington, D.C. with a job opening at the National Endowment for the Humanities. That friend ended up becoming the drug czar, and when he left, Walters picked up where he left off.

"I had been away from academe for so long, there was no reason to go back," Walters said. "I consider public service a great honor. It's an opportunity to work in something you care about."

In the speech, Walters dispelled some of the myths of drug use, and what his role is in drug control in the United States.

"Of 5.7 million people we have to treat, 23 percent are teens," he said. "Well over half don't think they have a problem."

He added marijuana is the most abused drug, and that most who use the drug are teens.

"We want to make people well," he said.

Walters said it is impossible for the country to become completely drug-free, and his office cannot control every drug problem.

But he wanted to make it clear the government is utilizing all its resources to combat the problems, including education, rehabilitation and stricter policies.

"Minding your own business and looking the other way is deadly," he said.

Aside from drug abuse, Walters talked about the resources Madison has to offer and urged students to realize the long-term benefits.

"We don't say thank you enough, we take things for granted," he said, praising the Madison professors for his education.

James Madison sophomore Jason Mikula admired Walters' achievements, but was disappointed with the speech.

Mikula said Walters failed to address the controversial advertisements that say drug users support terrorism.

"By avoiding that, he didn't make himself look good," he said.