UNFAIR LAW USES DRUGS TO MASK UNDESERVED PUNISHMENT

People who use drugs don't deserve an education. At least that's the message
the federal government is sending with one portion of the Higher Education
Act of 1998 that will take effect this July. One controversial section of
the HEA states that a student who is convicted of any crime involving the
possession or sale of illegal drugs can no longer receive federal financial
aid.

The provision applies only to drug convictions — not violent crimes, not sex
crimes and not weapons charges.

Apparently, our elected representatives think it's necessary to protect us
from having to go to school with pot smokers while continuing to hand out
free money to murderers and rapists.

While one can assume the purpose of the legislation is to deter the use of
drugs in college, the true effect of the law is only to punish those who
have made mistakes and tried to move on.

Instead of making it harder for those unfortunate enough to be touched by
the ill effects of illegal drugs to seek the education they need to further
themselves, the government should be helping them.

Experiencing the ills of drugs and deciding to continue on and seek out an
education is a sign of strength and determination — a strength and
determination that many students who have their college tuition handed to
them on a silver spoon don't have.

Furthermore, everyone from Associated Student President Victor Cox to
members of the newly recognized Drug Policy Reform Organization have pointed
out this law targets the poor and minorities. These groups are among the
most likely to seek financial aid and the most likely to be unable to fight
drug charges.

The DPRO, a campus group, and Barney Frank (D-Mass.), a U.S. representative
are trying to change the law. While the DPRO presented the A.S. with a
non-binding resolution which would express their opposition to the law,
Frank is currently pushing legislation which would repeal the absurd section
of the HEA.

Hopefully the A.S. and the Federal Government will realize just how
pointless this law is and pass their respective resolutions.

Our country is supposed to be a land of opportunity, and those opportunities
shouldn't be given to certain groups of the population, while restricted
from others.

Section “F” of the HEA is bad law and should be repealed, and as students,
we should be the voice calling most loudly for its retraction.