Pubdate: Tue, 18 Oct 2005
Source: Post, The (Ohio U, OH Edu)
Copyright: 2005 The Post
Contact: http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/letter.php
Website: http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1269
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

HIGH(ER) EDUCATION

As the U.S. Congress prepares to vote on the reauthorization of the 
Higher Education Act, one of its more controversial provisions has 
fallen under renewed scrutiny. The legislation's drug provision, 
which delays or denies federal aid to applicants with past drug 
convictions, has been singled out as unfair and misguided. Much of 
this criticism is entirely justified. HEA's drug provision is 
clumsily devised and should be eliminated from the reauthorization process.

The Higher Education Act was passed during the Johnson administration 
with the intent to create opportunities to attend college for all 
would-be students, regardless of their financial status. Many of the 
federal loans and grants used by students today were created by HEA. 
The fact that the legislation itself should be reauthorized is not 
under dispute. However, the drug provision in question was added in 
1998 and has since denied financial opportunities to approximately 
175,000 students, not counting those who did not apply after learning 
of the provision. The provision is another misguided aspect of the 
federal government's overzealous waging of the War on Drugs and is 
causing more harm than good.

The drug provision delays federal aid for one year for one offense, 
two years for two offenses and implements a life-time ban after 
three. However, it in no way accommodates for the severity of a 
conviction. This is not to mention that those victimized by this 
provision are being unduly punished twice for their crimes. Whatever 
sentences offenders are handed in court should be the extent of their 
punishments. Instead, they are subsequently denied opportunities to 
better themselves because of the inherent failings of a poorly 
designed piece of legislation. This provision is another in a series 
of backward, misguided laws that need to be recognized as such and challenged.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman