DRUG PROVISION 'SUCKS,' 'RUINS LIVES'

Tom Angell Spoke On The Flaws Of The Higher Education Act

Murderers, arsonists and rapists are still allowed to get it, but get
caught smoking a blunt and your financial aid will get flushed along with it.

Tom Angell, campaigns director for Students for Sensible Drug Policy,
said a 1998 provision to the Higher Education Act - which delays or
denies students with drug convictions from receiving financial aid - is flawed.

Angell spoke to about 30 students in the Reitz Union on Thursday
night as part of NORML UF's push for students to become aware of the
HEA drug provision, which he said is "also known as the law that
sucks a lot and ruins hundreds of students' lives every year."

Since financial aid usually goes to underprivileged students, the
provision is inherently flawed because it inadvertently targets those
students who need the funds, Angell said.

He said it's also unconstitutional: The double jeopardy clause of the
Fifth Amendment prohibits punishing people twice for the same crime,
so after paying dues for a drug conviction, students shouldn't be
required to forfeit their education money as well.

His student-run, nonprofit organization takes a three-pronged
approach that includes lobbying to repeal the law, finding plaintiffs
for the lawsuit and changing campus drug policies. Police shouldn't
be called when a student is found with drugs on or off campus, Angell
said. He thinks universities should instead focus on prevention
through education.

Florida Bright Futures Scholarships are attached to students'
eligibility for federal financial aid, but if his organization's bill
passes, it will separate the two, NORML spokesman Lewis Kirvan said.

While the most important part of his organization's support comes
from student offenders, the challenge lies in getting people to participate.

"It's embarrassing when you have a drug conviction," Angell said.
"It's not easy to come forward and talk about that."

To encourage plaintiff support, SSDP offers these students a $2,000
scholarship.

NORML UF typically invites three speakers a year to promote awareness
for the legalization of responsible marijuana use, said Jaylen
McGrew, the organization's co-director.

"I'm hoping we can help fight the drug war and be better leaders and
political activists for a just and right cause," McGrew said.

So does Angell participate in the fun he's fighting for?

"I think it's kind of irrelevant. We're here to talk about the policies."