DRUG USERS DESERVE COLLEGE

As college students around the country prepare for midterms,
thousands of potential classmates don't have that opportunity,
because of a federal law that strips financial aid from people with
drug convictions.

The policy is being reconsidered as Congress renews the Higher
Education Act for the first time in seven years. While the act was
originally passed in 1965 to make higher education more accessible
and affordable for all Americans, the drug provision - added in 1998
- - 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 provision.

Every student affected by this law has already gone through the
courts, so 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 minorities out of college.

Last month, Congress' researchers at the Government Accountability
Office were unable to find evidence the provision reduces drug abuse.
In fact, other federal studies show 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.

According to the Census Bureau, college graduates earn 62 percent
more each year and $1 million more over their lifetimes than people
with high school diplomas. College graduates pay twice as much
federal income tax than high school graduates. The revenue-slashing
aid ban is unacceptable in a time of budget shortfalls, and the law
does more than hurt revenue - it drives up public spending.

Educated people are less likely to rely on costly social programs
like welfare, food stamps and public housing. Budget hawks should be
outraged that this provision prevents people from pulling themselves
up by their bootstraps and becoming productive, taxpaying citizens.

College graduates are also less likely to break the law and become
drains on the criminal justice system. People with high school
diplomas are 12 times more likely to be incarcerated than college graduates.

We should encourage people who have been in trouble with drugs to
move beyond their mistakes, but the Higher Education Act's drug
provision prevents them from getting their lives back on track.
Graduating more college students means greater economic productivity
and increased tax revenue, while locking up more inmates means
taxpayers must continue to pay for skyrocketing prison costs. Keeping
this policy on the books is fiscally irresponsible.

One pending proposal to scale back the law would help some students
get back into school, but would leave thousands behind. The minor
change would stop the provision from affecting people with
convictions in the past, but students busted while in school would
lose their aid, failing to address the fundamental problems with the law.

Since there are minimum grade requirements for receiving aid, the
partially reformed provision would still only affect students doing
well in classes. Good students would continue to be removed from
school for minor convictions, many never returning to finish their degrees.

The Department of Education reports that more than one-third of
students leaving college before beginning their second year don't
return within five years.

Partially reforming this fundamentally flawed law is like slapping a
Band-Aid on a gaping wound.

Lawmakers should repeal the drug provision and reinstate aid to
qualified individuals. Students should contact Students for Sensible
Drug Policy and get involved in efforts to take Drug War politics out
of education. More than 120 student governments have passed
resolutions calling on Congress to repeal the drug provision.

It could be another seven years before Congress restructures the act
again. Concerned students and educators should urge their legislators
to take the lead in helping young people stay where they belong - in school.

If Congress doesn't act now, another 175,000 students could have the
doors to education slammed shut in their faces.

Tom Angell is the campaign director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy.