Pubdate: Thu, 28 Sep 2006
Source: State Hornet, The (CA State, Sacramento, Edu)
Copyright: 2006 State Hornet
Contact:  http://www.statehornet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1400
Author: Nicki Croly
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy)

STUDENTS CONVICTED OF DRUG OFFENSES SHOULD NOT GET AID

Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, LSD, crystal meth: Use them and 
kiss your financial aid goodbye. And for those of you reliant on aid 
to attend college, you can kiss that degree goodbye as well.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, federal law now 
suspends federal student aid eligibility for any student convicted of 
possessing or selling illegal drugs during his or her enrollment, as 
a part of the Higher Education Act.

Outraged? How dare they? Shaking your fist at the American 
government? Then you're probably not going to like what I'm about to say.

I personally have no problem with this policy. In fact, I kind of 
like it. You break the law by doing or selling drugs, you must pay 
the consequences of your actions. Is this part of the "war" to keep 
kids from doing drugs? Probably. And to that I say, "Right on federal 
government, right on!" If you choose to ruin your life by doing or 
selling drugs then why should it be on the government's dime? It shouldn't.

Here's a thought: How about instead of buying drugs, you buy your own books?

This isn't like, "Well, this one time I tried pot and now I can't get 
financial aid." Most of the time, people who get caught are not first 
time offenders. They are frequent sellers and/or users. So, I'm 
sorry, but I don't feel bad if you lose your aid because you got 
caught breaking the law.

Who really is the victim here? There are thousands of students who, 
for whatever reason, do not receive financial aid. I happen to be one 
of them. I have spent my time here paying my own way. I pay my 
tuition, my books, my car payment, my cell phone, etc.

And the only reason I don't pay rent is because my mom decided to let 
me live at home for free to help support me through college. But I am 
far from rolling in the cash. It really would be nice if the 
government could pay for me to go to college.

Maybe then I wouldn't have to work so much and I could focus more on 
my studies. But the reality is, I have to work. The reality is, I 
don't do drugs and I don't receive financial aid.

Plus, offenders aren't banished from college or even from receiving 
aid. If a student truly wishes to make up for their wrongdoing and 
regain their aid, they can by completing a rehabilitation program 
that includes random drug tests.

"In the majority of cases, students retain their eligibility," 
Education Department spokeswoman Valerie Smith told USA Today.

Some people would argue that this law makes it even harder for 
minorities to get a college education. This argument is invalid 
because according to www.stopthedrugwar.com, there are no statistics 
indicating that African-Americans use drugs at a higher rate.

It is a slap in the face to students like me to see people getting 
anywhere from a partial to full-ride from financial aid and spend 
their time and extra money on drugs or the distribution of them. How 
about moving up the standards and helping out students who do the right thing?

For those of you outraged at this idea, maybe you feel like this is 
just another step in the government's push to control your lives. 
Maybe you think the man is trying to get you down. But when this same 
man is paying your way, you have to be held accountable.

Just like a job, you have a boss who oversees your work and if you 
aren't fulfilling your duties, why should you get the Christmas bonus 
when so many would give anything to receive the same financial windfall?
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman