DRUG OFFENDERS COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID

Drug Offenders Could Be Eligible For Financial Aid

New law passed would allow convicted drug offenders eligibility for
educational aid if conviction is prior to enrollment.

Convicted drug offenders may soon find it easier to receive federal
financial aid for college after a recent provision passed by Congress
that awaits presidential approval.

If approved by President Bush, the new law would take effect July 1
and deem drug offenders eligible for financial aid if they committed
the crime before enrollment. Under the current policy, if someone has
a drug record at all, regardless of when the offense was, they are not
eligible to apply for financial aid.

The Associated Press reported President Bush is expected to sign the
new regulations into law.

Under the new regulations, drug convictions during enrollment will
still affect aid. For the first offense, a person would lose
eligibility for a year; for the second, two years, and they would not
be eligible again after a third conviction.

According to the Students for Sensible Drug Policy Web site, 175,000
students have lost out on financial aid because of drug records.

Billie Jo Hamilton, the director of financial aid at SIUC, said even
though some students may not want to see their aid dispersed
elsewhere, the new law will help the target group of convicted drug
offenders.

"It gives them the chances of improving their lives and getting away
from the environment that caused (problems) in the first place,"
Hamilton said.

Hamilton said the change shouldn't have an effect on financial aid for
the fall 2006 semester because those applications are due before the
law goes into effect.

Because there is no extra money going into federal funding, the law
might tighten the financial aid supply to students with no history of
drug problems.

Larry Dietz, the vice chancellor of student affairs and enrollment at
SIUC, said this might create an issue of students without drug charges
feeling shortchanged out of aid.

"There is certainly a dilemma," Dietz said. "There are strong feelings
toward both sides of the argument."

Dietz said SIUC only looks at students' records to determine their
living arrangement on campus. He said drug records have nothing to do
with admission into the University.

Those who support the new law stress the need for education. In a
prepared statement, U.S. Rep Jerry Costello (D-Belleville) said it is
hard for offenders to move on in life without an education.

"While we need to continue to send a strong message that drug use is
unacceptable, a major part of moving on and being a productive citizen
is the ability to get an education," Costello said.

Wendy Stearns, a freshman studying management from Carbondale, echoed
that sentiment. She said she understands if students are angered about
aid going elsewhere, but it makes sense for students to receive
another chance.

"People might see if as beneficial if these people lead a better life
for themselves and society," Stearns said. "If you have the mindset of
'once a criminal, always a criminal,' it might be viewed as a waste of
money. I'm more into second chances."