STUDENTS FIGHT BAN ON COLLEGE FUNDS FOR DRUG OFFENDERS

Opposition is growing on college campuses to a provision of the Higher
Education Act that withholds federal financial aid from students convicted
of selling or possessing drugs.

Congress passed the provision in the fall to send a message to young drug
users, but opponents say that it denies money to troubled students when they
need it most to turn their lives around, that it fails to address drug
intervention and education, and that it ignores other types of criminal
behavior.

Many college students are becoming aware of the provision but worry about
its ramifications.

"I am a little scared myself. I know how people's names get dropped, and
they can get arrested," said Hunter Russell, a junior at the University of
Texas at Dallas. "My main fear is being in the wrong place at the wrong
time. I could lose my financial aid. I'm pretty dependent on it."

The provision, part of the Higher Education Act Amendments of 1998, goes
into effect in fall 2000 and denies grants, loans and work assistance to
students convicted under federal or state law.

Students can lose at least one year of financial aid for a drug possession
conviction and at least two years for a conviction of selling drugs.

Eligibility can be reinstated during the suspension if students complete
rehabilitation and pass two random drug tests, but the law does not define
rehabilitation, said Judy Schneider, assistant vice president and director
of Student Financial Aid at the University of Texas at Arlington.

"We are somewhat hopeful that Congress will address some of the questions
and actually reverse its position and not tie financial aid to the issue,"
said Schneider, president of the National Association of Student Financial
Aid Administrators. "We do not feel like it's an issue that should be tied
to receiving financial aid."

The opinion is shared by Drug Reform Coordination Network officials in
Washington, who are trying to spread awareness of the provision through an
online newsletter.

Student leaders at 130 campuses are reviewing the provision to determine
whether they will support a resolution to ask Congress to overturn it, said
Adam Smith, the network's associate director.

"The provision is a misguided way to fight the war on drugs," said Smith,
who is helping students coordinate the campaign. "Given the racial disparity
in drug law enforcement, this will inevitably have a discriminatory impact.
It will deny education to those for whom it is most vital: the poor, the
non-white and non-violent young people who have had previous contact with
the criminal justice system and who are trying to turn their lives around."

Reports of increasing drug arrests among college students have contributed
to lawmakers' frustration, but their approach should have focused on
intervention and treatment, said Irma P. Jones, coordinator of substance
abuse prevention and vice president for student affairs at the University of
North Texas.

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) gave the students' campaign a boost by
introducing a bill to repeal the provision. But it most likely will be
opposed by lawmakers such as House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), who
strongly supported the provision.

"Every criminal who gets funding takes away from other students who need
it," said Jim Wilkinson, Armey's press secretary. "There are so many kids in
the inner city who do not have access to money for education who want to get
out of their situations and to make something out of their lives. To think
that some students get turned
down because a drug dealer gets it is a big concern."