SMOKE POT, GET CAUGHT, LOSE COLLEGE FUNDING

It's high time we halt the relentless discrimination against
individuals convicted of drug-related crimes.

I recently learned of a ban on federal financial aid for students
with drug convictions. Under this ban even a single, minor drug
charge or violation (including possession of drug paraphernalia) will
prevent a student from receiving financial aid for college. In other
words, that funky Phish bong you picked up at Pipe Dream could cost
you more than just retail.

As the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) notes, "This means that
if your parents can afford to pay for college, you will be unaffected
by this measure. But for low or middle income students, this
misguided provision could mean the end of a college education and all
of the advantages it offers."

So, if you've got college costs covered, why should you care?

First of all, this ban unjustly continues to penalize students with
drug convictions, even after their debt to society has been paid. By
preventing students convicted for drug offenses from receiving
financial aid for education, it's as if our government has added to
their sentence. The condemnation of these students to a bleak future,
devoid of intellectual growth and employment opportunities afforded
by college education, is essentially cruel and unusual punishment.

Second, this ban is discriminatory and counter-productive to its
intended purpose. As Brandon Conaway, a writer for the Northern Iowan
(a student paper published by the University of Northern Iowa, cited
from Vol. 103, No. 14), argues:

"It may seem justified that breaking the law can result in a loss of
federal aid. However, the law only applies to drug convictions. This
means that a convicted murderer or rapist can still get financial
aid, while someone convicted of misdemeanor possession of marijuana
cannot. There is also no conclusive proof that the provision deters
drug use - the major reason the provision was implemented in the first place."

The only conclusion that can be made about this ban is that it will
do more to harm society, than it does to improve it. As The ACLU
remarks; "In essence, this provision does nothing to help
disadvantaged students struggling with substance abuse problems, but
it does block access to education for those who are already at risk
of being shoved to society's margins. [Furthermore,] it will have a
racially discriminatory impact. Drug enforcement already focuses
heavily on minority communities. Recent Department of Justice
statistics show that African Americans make up 12 percent of the
population and 13 percent of drug offenders, but represent more and
more then 70 percent of incarcerations for drug possession. Hispanics
are overrepresented as well. More than half of all federal powder
cocaine prosecutions are against Hispanics, even though they do not
use drugs at a greater rate than their population (approximately 10 percent).

Blocking access to education is counter-productive. If students are
experimenting with drugs, forcing them to drop out of college will
only make it harder for them to become successful, productive members
of society."

If higher education and the subsequent promise of increased
employment opportunities are not options for someone with a prior
drug conviction, what alternatives can we suggest?

At the crux of this legislation is a grave misunderstanding about the
causes and treatment of drug addiction. The majority of American
society views drug addiction as a moral issue rather than a chronic
mental illness that often requires lifelong treatment. The fact is
that for most chronic drug abusers who are unable to stay "clean,"
the path of addiction usually leads to prison, confinement to
institutions, or death.

Those who serve time for drug offenses discover that once they are
out of prison, the stigma associated with drug convictions makes life
difficult. Incidentally, recovering addicts find trouble acquiring
adequate employment and are afforded little choice but to enter the
welfare system. To make matters worse, many non-violent drug
offenders facing incarceration have no, or else strained, family
relations and social support. As a result, children (the innocent
victims) of drug addicts often wind up in the custody of Child
Protection Services (CPS). Therefore, the unintentional result of
this ban is a burden to American taxpayers, the prison system, and the economy.

Defending the rights of these members of society is an important
issue for me. Through my volunteer work, I have become acquainted
with those at greatest risk for being victimized by this provision.
Two years ago, while working as an Art Therapy volunteer, I was
introduced to low-income women in a drug & alcohol detox facility.
Many of the treatment center's clients (women of all ages) arrive in
poor physical health, with no material possessions left, and no place
to live. Despite their difficult financial and emotional
circumstances, these women fearlessly struggle to stay clean and
rebuild their future.

Upon witnessing their return to health, I have developed a deep
respect and sympathy for people battling addiction. The women in
recovery whom I have met understand that higher education and better
employment is the gateway to a better life for both themselves and
their children. Thus, it is inexcusable to permit a ban that robs any
American citizen (whether they suffer from addiction or not) the
opportunity to pursue the noble goal of higher learning.

My parents (both devout Christian Protestants) have a familiar
religious phrase they like to recite. It serves as a reminder that we
are not so different (or any better) than our fellows:

"There, but for the Grace of God, go I..."

As college students and fellow citizens, we cannot sit by and permit
our government to deny the betterment of these, or any individual,
the opportunity for an education, regardless of his or her past
indiscretions. We should do all we can to provide each other with an
equal opportunity to learn and grow: both in terms of increased
tolerance and understanding of addiction, and in terms of continued
academic learning.

Take Action! Urge your Representatives to Reform the Higher Education Act!

Peace.