LOSING COLLEGE AID AN UNFAIR DRUG DETERRENT

As college students around the country prepare for this semester's
midterms, thousands of their would-be classmates don't have anything
to study for because of a federal law that strips financial aid from
people with drug convictions.

The policy is currently being reconsidered as Congress renews the
Higher Education Act for the first time in seven years. While the HEA
was originally enacted in 1965 to make higher education more
accessible and affordable for all Americans, the Drug Provision added
during the 1998 HEA reauthorization — is an unjustifiable roadblock
in the path to college. Over the past seven years, more than 175,000
students have lost their financial aid because of the HEA drug provision.

Every student affected by this law has already gone through the
courts. Taking away their financial aid punishes them twice for the
same crime. Drug crimes are the only infractions that students lose
aid for — murderers and rapists are still eligible. And because of
racial profiling and the discriminatory enforcement of drug laws, the
policy disproportionately keeps people of color out of college.

Last month, Congress's own researchers at the Government
Accountability Office were unable to find any evidence the provision
actually reduces drug abuse. In fact, other federal studies show that
high school graduates not attending college are far more likely to
use drugs than those in college.

Besides worsening our nation's drug problems and victimizing students
who are trying to turn their lives around with a college education,
this law hurts America's economic productivity and makes our streets
more dangerous.

TOM ANGELL

Campaign Director,

Students for Sensible Drug Policy