LAWMAKERS TAKE STAND AGAINST DENYING FINANCIAL AID TO DRUG OFFENDERS

A coalition of U.S. House Democrats introduced legislation today that would
repeal a moratorium on federal financial aid to college students with drug
convictions, citing denial of aid for 8,162 students this school year.

"Someone who commits murder or armed robbery is not automatically barred
from financial aid eligibility," said U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.).
"But if you have even one non-violent drug conviction, you can't get any
aid for a year, with longer bans for people with additional convictions."

The block on financial aid, stemming from 1998 amendments to the Higher
Education Act, intended to curb drug use and make a strike in the war on drugs.

"(The war on drugs) has turned out to be a war on our own people, in this
case young people," said Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), a cosponsor of the resolution.

These young people have the ability to change, said Rep. Eleanor Holmes
Norton (D-DC).

The application for student aid does not include questions about other
convictions.

"It singles out drug use as if it were worse than any other crime," Frank said.

The law blocks students from receiving financial aid for one year if they
have been convicted once, for two years if they have been convicted twice
and indefinitely if they have been convicted more than twice.

Students convicted of selling drugs would lose aid for two years from the
conviction date of the first offense and indefinitely for the second.
Students can regain their aid if they complete a rehabilitation program or
if the conviction is overturned.

Frank introduced identical legislation in the last session, but leadership
curtailed the measure in committee.

Student leaders, lobbyists and legislators said they hope the climate this
session will allow the bill to be passed.

"We hope it will go through this Congress, or in 2002," said Shawn Heller,
national director for Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, a group of 77
college chapters, three high school chapters and 64 interest groups.

A dozen college students and some university financial aid administrators
attended the news conference yesterday at the Capitol Building.

"These individuals, convicted of felony drug possession or the sale of
illegal drugs, have paid their debt to society through the justice system,"
said Larry Zaglaniczny, director of Congressional relations at the National
Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Ohio University is a
member.

Supporters of the measure include the Association of Big Ten Schools, the
General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church and the
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Student
governments, including OU's Student Senate, also are joining the campaign.

Student Senate adopted a resolution Feb. 7 urging Congressional leadership
to repeal the question.

Senate's Off-campus Housing Commissioner Luke Ellwood said students must
protest the standard.

"I don't think it's a drug issue," he said. "It's an access to education
issue."