DRUG CONVICTIONS RISK FINANCIAL AID

Students receiving financial aid should think twice before lighting
up, shooting up or sniffing up any illegal drugs.

A 2000 law requires that any student with a drug conviction be denied
financial aid. So before rolling a joint, opening wide or finding
that vein, think about it. As well as destroying the body, drugs also
can deprive the mind of education.

According to a report released by the FBI, 829,625 people were
arrested last year for marijuana violations, totaling more marijuana
arrests than in any other year in U.S history, even counting the 1970s.

The number averages out to one marijuana arrest every 38 seconds.

That means that in the time it would take an average reader to get
this far through this story, at least one more person probably has
been arrested for a marijuana violation.

The startling numbers mean that more young people are at risk of
losing their financial aid. Since the law's enactment in 2000, almost
200,000 students have been denied aid.

"Now students have to actually be receiving financial aid when
they're convicted of drug charges," said Joy Connors, associate
director of the Amarillo College Financial Aid Office.

"Before two years ago, any drug convictions meant you'd be denied."

There are those who believe the consequences of a drug conviction are
disproportionate to the crime. Students For Sensible Drug Policy is
an organization of such people.

"In the long term, this law will cause more drug abuse, more crime,
by blocking people's access to education," said SSDP government
relations director Tom Angell. "People who are denied education will
be far more likely to depend on the government in the long term,
through incarceration and welfare. Basically, it's like shooting
ourselves in the foot."

Students are paying attention, too.

"I don't think it's fair that people be denied financial aid for just
one drug conviction," said Joshua Braudt, an engineering major.

"I think most people deserve a second chance."

What can students do to get involved?

"Check out our Web site," Angell said. "It's
www.SchoolsNotPrisons.com. We have over 100 chapters on high school
and college campuses across America and Canada.

"If a student wants to get involved, they can get on the Web site and
send a letter to their legislators, or they could even start a chapter."