QUESTION ON FAFSA CONFUSES APPLICANTS

Purdue students who left question 28 on their Free Application for Federal
Student Aid forms unanswered will still be eligible for financial aid.

The U.S. Department of Education decided that students who left the
question blank meant to say that they had not been convicted of using
illegal drugs, despite the fact that a blank answer actually means they
have been convicted.

The question reads, "If you have never been convicted of any illegal drug
offense, enter a 1 in the box and go on to question 29. A drug-related
conviction does not necessarily make you ineligible for aid. Call
1-800-433-3243 or go to www.fafsa.ed.gov/q28 to find out how to answer this
question. It was unclear how students should answer if they had had a
drug-related conviction.

Surveys showed students were confused by the question, according to the
Associated Press.

Hall said of Purdue students who filled out the FAFSA form, 1300 left the
question blank and 14 marked that they had had a drug-related conviction.
According to the Associated Press, nationwide, 13% of students left the
question unanswered.

Hall said financial aid administrators decided that the large number of
students nationwide left the question blank because they thought they had
to answer it only if they had had a drug conviction. They believe students
meant to say they did not have a drug conviction. However, Hall said, they
were originally assumed blank answers that meant students had been
convicted and were going to hold the processing.

Joyce Hall, director of the division of financial aid, said the question
has changed since last year. It was added to enforce a law passed in 1998
which prevents drug convicts from receiving financial aid for college,
according to the Associated Press. Federal and college officials have been
unsure how to deal with students who have left the question unanswered or
who have lied on their answer.

Before this year, a student could be denied financial aid due to a drug
conviction, but only when a judge made it a part of the student's sentence.
Now, it is considered when students apply for financial aid. Hall said the
eligibility of financial aid depends on each case for students who have had
a conviction related to drugs. The number of convictions, the type of crime
and whether they have had rehabilitation are considered in each case.

Hall does not know if the question will be changed for next year's form.
"We would prefer it to be left off the financial aid form," said Hall. She
said although it is an important issue, she would like the government to
address it through another venue.

"I don't think that's a question that's appropriate for financial aid,"
said Dhruv Jyoti, a freshman in Schools of Engineering.

Despite the number of students who left the question blank, many others
found it to be a reasonable question and answered it.

"I can see their point when they don't want to give out money to people who
won't be responsible with it," said Lynda Beisel, a freshman in the School
of Consumer and Family Sciences. "I think it's a valid question."

Dave Sierkowski, a sophomore in the School of Technology said, "I wasn't
confused by it." He said he thinks the question is acceptable to have on
the financial aid forms because it is an issue that is considered when
people apply for jobs.

The law would be difficult to enforce because there is no national database
of drug convicts.