Pubdate: Tue, 12 Sep 2006
Source: University Star (Texas State University - San Marcos, Edu)
Copyright: 2006 The University Star
Contact:  http://www.star.txstate.edu
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4256
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1204/a09.html
Author: Taressa Stone
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

LEGITIMACY OF AID AMOUNT LIES WITH NUMBERS, NOT VALUES

I think this article kind of missed the point of FAFSA. Although I  
agree with the moral standpoint in the article, I don't think that  
FAFSA is trying to regulate morality through disbursement of  
financial aid.

The determination of qualification is not based on some morality test  
after all, but on income. Last I checked people couldn't make a lot  
of money selling alcohol. If someone is selling drugs and not  
reporting that income, is a great injustice to those of us who either  
qualify for less aid or do not qualify for any because we have a  
legitimate job. If FAFSA is using that case-by-case determination to  
determine whether the subject had enough drugs to be a distributor,  
or only a user, then I think it is a necessary loophole.

I do not think someone who was caught with a small amount of  
marijuana for personal use should lose their funding, but if they are  
selling, they are taking financial aid from those who don't have a  
supplemental income. They are also not reporting this income to the  
IRS or any programs from which they might be receiving aid. It seems  
like a numbers question more than a moral question.

Taressa Stone, accounting senior
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MAP posted-by: Jackl