Pubdate: Thu, 13 Oct 2005
Source: Daily Californian, The (UC Berkeley, CA Edu)
Copyright: 2005 The Daily Californian
Contact:  http://www.dailycal.org/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/597
Author: Veronica Louie

FINANCIAL AID PENALTY FOR DRUG CRIMES GETS FRESH SCRUTINY

As Congress considers changes to the Higher Education Act, UC 
Berkeley, along with 250 organizations nationwide, is calling for an 
end to a provision that restricts students with past drug convictions 
from receiving financial aid.

As an amendment of the act in 1998, the provision denies students who 
have been convicted of certain drug charges from receiving the 
benefits of Pell Grants, student loans and work study monies.

But the future of the law is in jeopardy as legislators take their 
first steps in loosening the provision through a bill that would 
limit the penalty to students who commit drug crimes while in college.

"It's probably the worst idea the federal government has dreamed up 
and the law needs to be gotten rid of completely," said Chris 
Mulligan, a spokesperson for the Coalition for Higher Education Act 
Reform, one of the leading supporters of the change.

According to a federal study released last month, between 17,000 and 
20,000 students are denied Pell Grants and around 29,000 to 41,000 
are ineligible for student loans under the provision each year.

Though no UC Berkeley students have been denied financial aid under 
the provision in the past two years, campus officials said aid should 
not be denied on those grounds.

"Under this law, the financial aid office is responsible for 
monitoring its aid applicants' behavior and we do not feel the 
university should be the 'watchdog' of social issues," said Priscilla 
Muha, associate director of UC Berkeley's financial aid office.

The criteria for being disqualified for aid is a question on the Free 
Application for Federal Student Aid, the form students use to apply 
for federal financial aid, asks students if they have been convicted 
of a drug crime.

"Students can go back on the FAFSA to correct the question, and it's 
up to the student to report honestly," said Muha, pointing out the 
flaws in the application.

Critics of the law said it disproportionately affects minority groups 
and lower and middle-class students from going to college.

"This policy has exacerbated gaps between social groups and racial 
minorities who are more at risk than whiter European Americans," said 
public policy and law professor Robert MacCoun.

MacCoun, who does drug policy research and analysis, said that the 
the denial of aid is just adding more punishment after the fact.

"Perceived penalties have little effect on people's behaviors and 
it's unlikely that people would take into account what would happen 
to their education opportunities," he said.

Students on campus agreed, saying that by limiting access to higher 
education, the law was unfair.

Senior Prathna Mehta said the law forces students to pay for mistakes 
and that students should not be denied an opportunity like higher 
education because of it.

"I think it is discriminatory because it enhances stereotypes," she 
said. "People who are more well-to-do can get away with (drug offenses)."

But other students said those with prior drug convictions should 
still pay the price.

"If you really want to go to college then you'll make it happen," 
said freshman Nicole Carlotto. "There is all kinds of help out there."
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman