Pubdate: Wed, 08 Feb 2006
Source: Orion, The (California State Chico, CA Edu)
Copyright: 2006 The Orion
Contact:  http://www.orion-online.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2816
Author: Kelly Reed
Alert: United States Students Score http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0323.html
Cited: Students for Sensible Drug Policy http://www.DAREgeneration.com
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Tom+Angell (Tom Angell)

BILL TO GIVE DRUG OFFENDERS AID

Prior drug convictions will no longer stop students from receiving 
Financial Aid if President Bush approves a revision to the Higher 
Education Act of 1998.

On Feb. 1, Congress voted to change the act, which has made it 
impossible for those who have been convicted of a drug offense to 
receive federal aid. The new policy will make past drug charges not 
matter when applying for aid, but students who are convicted of a 
drug crime while receiving aid will still be ineligible.

More than 175,000 students have been denied aid because of the law, 
said Tom Angell, the campaign director for Students for Sensible Drug 
Policy. But that number only represents people who checked "yes" for 
the question on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form 
that asked if they had been convicted of a drug crime, he said.

"That doesn't account for students who saw the question and didn't 
fill out the form," Angell said. "There's really no way to tell how 
many have been affected."

Students for Sensible Drug Policy was formed in 1997 in response to 
the government's war on drugs, which the organization said is 
misguided. It currently has chapters at colleges across the country.

"Our organization tries to reduce the negative impact that the war on 
drugs has had on students," Angell said.

The revision to the Higher Education Act is a "partial victory," 
Angell said, but he is still concerned for students who could lose 
their aid if convicted while in college.

Students need to be aware of these policies, said Shauna Quinn, 
project director at the Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Center.

"This is something I've always educated students on in my classes," 
she said. "That if they are convicted (of a drug crime) they could 
lose their Financial Aid."

Quinn said she will be surprised if Bush approves the policy, but she 
hopes he will.

"People should be able to get their lives back in order, and 
education is a big part of that," she said.

Financial Aid and Scholarship office director Meredith Kelley said 
she isn't sure how many people applying for aid at Chico State have 
been denied because of drug convictions, but it is something every 
campus deals with.

More often the campus has issues with people who leave the question 
blank because of a drug conviction on record or they are confused, she said.

She was pleased by the recent decision and said it was a positive step.

"There's no other conviction that affects your Financial Aid unless 
you're incarcerated," she said. "Congress realized that they 
overreacted and made it a lot harder for people to get their lives 
back on track." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake