A SECOND CHANCE FOR DRUG OFFENDERS - SORT OF In relaxing rules which made students with drug conviction ineligible for federal financial aid, the U.S. Congress has taken a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, it is only a small step, one which leaves the flaws of the original rules in place and does nothing to address the hypocrisy at the law's core. Under the proposed new rules governing eligibility for federal financial aid, drug offenders who were not enrolled in school or receiving aid at the time of their convictions will qualify. People who are convicted of a drug possession offense while receiving aid will be ineligible for one year. The second conviction brings two years of ineligibility and the third will indefinitely disqualify the offender for federal financial aid. Penalties for selling are harsher. Congress should get credit for allowing for the possibility of reform, and encouraging drug offenders to get an education and start a new life. Assuming President Bush approves the measure, it will be possible for someone with drug convictions to apply for and receive federal financial aid. But in targeting drug offenders, Congress reveals the true purpose of the law, which is to allow politicians to take a tough stance on crime and drugs. The original rules penalized applicants with drug convictions who honestly completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and admitted to drug convictions. The applicant could be declared ineligible even if the convictions had occurred years before, even if the sentence had already been served in full. What practical purpose could that possibly serve? Are we supposed to conclude that drug use is acceptable for the wealthy? Or that drug use only occurs among people with income levels which would allow them to qualify for federal financial aid? Now that we have scratched the surface of the law's hypocrisy, let's keep digging. Why target drug offenders? Do we deny financial aid to convicted murderers or rapists? Is there a special question for either of those groups on the FAFSA? Are we unconcerned about such crimes? The law's biggest flaw is that it ignores the real substance abuse problem. According to fact sheets posted on the White House Web site, "Alcohol, of all substances used, causes the most problems on college campuses." This fact is apparently no cause for concern among members of Congress, nor does it seem to trouble President Bush, who is expected to sign the bill into law. An estimated 175,000 people have been denied federal financial aid because of their drug convictions since the question began appearing on the application forms in 2000, according to the group Students for a Sensible Drug Policy. Maybe some of them will apply again and eventually receive aid. As long as politicians can win elections by persecuting drug users while ignoring more serious problems, it will be a hollow victory.
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