U.S. WILL DENY COLLEGE AID TO THOSE WITH DRUG RECORDS

Washington - President George W. Bush's administration has decided to
enforce a previously ignored law denying federal financial aid to
college students with drug convictions.

Hundreds of thousands of applicants who did not answer a drug
conviction question on their applications were not denied aid during
Bill Clinton's administration, despite the law saying they should have.

Now, failure to answer the question will result in rejection of the
application.

"Congress passed legislation, and our department is obliged to carry
out that legislative direction," Education Department spokeswoman
Lindsey Kozberg said Tuesday.

Critics say the law unfairly punishes less wealthy applicants and
encourages people with drug convictions to lie.