Pubdate: Thu, 11 Apr 2002
Source: GW Hatchet (DC)
Copyright: 2002 The GW Hatchet
Contact:  http://www.gwhatchet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/757
Author: Joe Gidjunis
Note: Russ Rizzo contributed to this report.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act)

SA DISPUTES DRUG QUESTION

GW students are joining others around the nation in fighting a law 
that strips them of financial aid for past or current drug offenses.

Question 35 on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form asks 
students if they have been convicted of possessing or selling illegal 
drugs while over the age of 18 (tobacco and alcohol are excluded). If 
they leave it blank, aid is delayed. If they have been convicted, aid 
can be permanently restricted.

On Tuesday the Student Association joined more than 100 student 
governments around the nation in signing a petition encouraging 
Congress to remove the question because it unfairly denies students 
needed funds.

"This law unlike any other law pulls students out of the classroom 
for minor mistakes," said junior Sam Mcree, president of Students for 
a Sensible Drug Policy, at the SA meeting. "This law is preventing 
people from bettering themselves."

During former President Bill Clinton's administration, the question 
was more vague and students often left it blank, leading financial 
aid offices to assume the student had no conviction, said Daniel 
Small, director of student financial assistance at GW. But the Bush 
administration has taken a stiffer policy on the question, forcing 
students to answer yes or no.

The online FAFSA form no longer allows students to submit a form with 
a blank question 35.

"The financial aid community does not like it," Small said, adding 
that a financially dependent student could lose up to $12,000 in many 
forms of federal aid including loans, grants and work-study pay.

Sophomore Eric Daleo (U-CCAS) sponsored the bill, which passed 16-5-1.

"Drug use is an illegal action, and this doesn't prevent people from 
getting an education," said SA Sen. J.P. Blackford (G-SEAS), who 
voted against the measure. "Not every person can attend GW whether or 
not they are convicted of drug use."

Some senators voted against the bill because they felt they would be 
advocating drug use by allowing their taxes to fund rehabilitation, 
said SA Sen. Maureen Benitz (G-CCAS).

Small said he does not know if any GW student has lost federal aid 
under this provision yet, but students have left the question blank 
in the past.

Yale University now reimburses students hurt by the law. While GW 
President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg said that is not a reality at GW, 
he said he does not agree with the law.

"I would like to tie it (financial aid) to murder," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Josh