DRUG PASTS LEAD TO COLLEGE AID DENIAL

Nearly 7,000 college students who applied for financial aid this fall
are finding past drug convictions returning to haunt them. The
students are being told they are ineligible for some or all federal
financial aid because of a new law. Under the law, students with
drug-related convictions can be ruled ineligible for federal grants or
loans. Of the 8.6 million applications processed through Oct. 15,
1,311 applicants have been ruled ineligible, and an additional 5,617
must complete a waiting period before becoming eligible, an official
said.