Pubdate: Tue, 04 Oct 2005
Source: Daily Toreador, The (TX Edu)
Copyright: [YEAR]sDaily Toreado
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Author: Jay Langley
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LAW DENYING FINANCIAL AID TO DRUG OFFENDERS DOES LITTLE TO DECREASE DRUG 
USE, STUDY SHOWS

Congress released a report last week on the effects that the 1998 amendment 
to the Higher Education Act has on student drug use. The law denies federal 
financial aid to students with drug convictions.

The study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office showed that more 
than 175,000 students with drug convictions have been denied financial aid.

"They were unable to find evidence that denying financial aid reduces drug 
use by young people," said Tom Angell, campaign director for Students for 
Sensible Drug Policy.

According to the Accountability Office Web site, college graduates earn 
nearly twice as much throughout a lifetime as those persons who only have a 
high school diploma. The study showed that a college education leads to 
decreases in crime and decreased dependence on public assistance.

"Denying access to college only increases drug abuse," Angell said. "If a 
person has a college education, they are less likely to actively pursue a 
life of crime."

Congress authorized the Higher Education Act in 1965. Every five years, 
Congress re-authorizes the act. In 1998, the financial aid ban was added as 
a provision to the federal law.

The financial aid ban is up for reconsideration this year as Congress 
overhauls the education law.

"We are calling on Congress to reinstate financial aid to those students 
who have been convicted," Angell said.

The Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Angell said, is working with many 
different organizations, including university student government 
associations, to push Congress to change the law.

Ryan Worley, the external vice president of the Texas Tech Student 
Government Association said the Tech SGA has never considered the financial 
aid ban.

"But it is something that we could definitely look into," he said. "I 
believe that it is important to give everyone a second chance."

Worley said the SGA could look into the financial aid ban in the future.

"I will bring it up to the senators and see if it is something they want to 
do research on," Worley said.

Becky Wilson, director of financial aid at Tech, said the university has no 
control over who receives aid.

"The federal government makes the decision," Wilson said. "It is not up to 
the institution."

Question 31 on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid asks the 
student if they have ever been convicted of possession or selling of 
illegal drugs. If the student checks the yes box they are sent an 
additional form to fill out. Based on the additional worksheet, the 
government determines whether the student will receive financial aid.

"Depending on how the student answers the questions on the federal 
application, Congress has said the government has the right to deny 
financial aid to students," Wilson said.

Angell said it is important to let students with drug convictions get their 
feet back on the ground by helping them with financial aid.

"Education has a long-term positive effect on society," he said. "Denying 
an education to people makes the streets unsafe."

Scarlett Swerdlow, executive director of the Students for Sensible Drug 
Policy, said in a news release that denying financial aid to students does 
not deter drug use. She said Congress' own researchers failed to show that 
the law does anything to solve drug problems. Swerdlow said preventing 
determined students from earning a college degree makes streets less safe 
and undercuts America's economic productivity.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D