LAW DENYING FINANCIAL AID TO DRUG OFFENDERS DOES LITTLE TO DECREASE DRUG
USE, STUDY SHOWS

Congress released a report last week on the effects that the 1998 amendment
to the Higher Education Act has on student drug use. The law denies federal
financial aid to students with drug convictions.

The study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office showed that more
than 175,000 students with drug convictions have been denied financial aid.

"They were unable to find evidence that denying financial aid reduces drug
use by young people," said Tom Angell, campaign director for Students for
Sensible Drug Policy.

According to the Accountability Office Web site, college graduates earn
nearly twice as much throughout a lifetime as those persons who only have a
high school diploma. The study showed that a college education leads to
decreases in crime and decreased dependence on public assistance.

"Denying access to college only increases drug abuse," Angell said. "If a
person has a college education, they are less likely to actively pursue a
life of crime."

Congress authorized the Higher Education Act in 1965. Every five years,
Congress re-authorizes the act. In 1998, the financial aid ban was added as
a provision to the federal law.

The financial aid ban is up for reconsideration this year as Congress
overhauls the education law.

"We are calling on Congress to reinstate financial aid to those students
who have been convicted," Angell said.

The Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Angell said, is working with many
different organizations, including university student government
associations, to push Congress to change the law.

Ryan Worley, the external vice president of the Texas Tech Student
Government Association said the Tech SGA has never considered the financial
aid ban.

"But it is something that we could definitely look into," he said. "I
believe that it is important to give everyone a second chance."

Worley said the SGA could look into the financial aid ban in the future.

"I will bring it up to the senators and see if it is something they want to
do research on," Worley said.

Becky Wilson, director of financial aid at Tech, said the university has no
control over who receives aid.

"The federal government makes the decision," Wilson said. "It is not up to
the institution."

Question 31 on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid asks the
student if they have ever been convicted of possession or selling of
illegal drugs. If the student checks the yes box they are sent an
additional form to fill out. Based on the additional worksheet, the
government determines whether the student will receive financial aid.

"Depending on how the student answers the questions on the federal
application, Congress has said the government has the right to deny
financial aid to students," Wilson said.

Angell said it is important to let students with drug convictions get their
feet back on the ground by helping them with financial aid.

"Education has a long-term positive effect on society," he said. "Denying
an education to people makes the streets unsafe."

Scarlett Swerdlow, executive director of the Students for Sensible Drug
Policy, said in a news release that denying financial aid to students does
not deter drug use. She said Congress' own researchers failed to show that
the law does anything to solve drug problems. Swerdlow said preventing
determined students from earning a college degree makes streets less safe
and undercuts America's economic productivity.