News (Media Awareness Project) - US RI: Edu: PUB LTE: Drug Provision Unconstitutional |
| Title: | US RI: Edu: PUB LTE: Drug Provision Unconstitutional |
| Published On: | 2003-09-17 |
| Source: | Good 5 Cent Cigar (RI Edu) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-19 12:34:55 |
DRUG PROVISION UNCONSTITUTIONAL
To the Cigar,
Tuesday, overwhelming disdain for the intolerant statements made by Mr.
Bruce Goodish flooded the opinion pages of the Good Five Cent Cigar. If you
missed Goodish's letter, he showed his support for the HEA drug provision,
which currently prohibits students that have drug convictions from receiving
federal financial aid. He also gave "Kudos to Congressmen Langevin and
Kennedy for refusing to support H.R. 685, a bill that would give criminals a
second chance.
According to the US Government website on drug abuse, nearly 50% of US high
school graduates have admitted to trying an illicit drug in the past.
Therefore, Mr. Goodish labels at least half of our nations children
"druggies" and "scum" and seems to think that they should all be denied a
higher education. And up until now, our Representatives seem to agree with
him.
Luckily, the wonderful part of the Constitution that allows this man to call
attention to his own narrow-mindedness ( the First Amendment, guys and
girls), is also the tool that allows social justice to triumph. Not only are
we able to write response letters urging our Representatives to act, but we
are able to assemble in order to fight this sort of racist, detrimental and
socially unacceptable legislation.
I encourage all those who believe that it is counter-productive to deny
higher education to past drug offenders, to turn your contempt into action.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy, an organization with over 200 chapters
nationwide, is on the front lines of repealing this provision. (URI's
chapter meets at 6:00 PM every Tuesday in the Memorial Union, Room 318).
I also encourage those who agree with Mr. Goodish to let us know why. Will
anybody else step up and echo his statements? Perhaps even Representatives
Langevin and Kennedy could take the time to pick up a pen and tell us why
they have thus far ignored this blatant attack on education. Certainly the
First Amendment applies to Representatives too, and your constituents would
love to know what you think.
Sincerely,
Micah Daigle
Co-President, URI Students for Sensible Drug Policy
To the Cigar,
Tuesday, overwhelming disdain for the intolerant statements made by Mr.
Bruce Goodish flooded the opinion pages of the Good Five Cent Cigar. If you
missed Goodish's letter, he showed his support for the HEA drug provision,
which currently prohibits students that have drug convictions from receiving
federal financial aid. He also gave "Kudos to Congressmen Langevin and
Kennedy for refusing to support H.R. 685, a bill that would give criminals a
second chance.
According to the US Government website on drug abuse, nearly 50% of US high
school graduates have admitted to trying an illicit drug in the past.
Therefore, Mr. Goodish labels at least half of our nations children
"druggies" and "scum" and seems to think that they should all be denied a
higher education. And up until now, our Representatives seem to agree with
him.
Luckily, the wonderful part of the Constitution that allows this man to call
attention to his own narrow-mindedness ( the First Amendment, guys and
girls), is also the tool that allows social justice to triumph. Not only are
we able to write response letters urging our Representatives to act, but we
are able to assemble in order to fight this sort of racist, detrimental and
socially unacceptable legislation.
I encourage all those who believe that it is counter-productive to deny
higher education to past drug offenders, to turn your contempt into action.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy, an organization with over 200 chapters
nationwide, is on the front lines of repealing this provision. (URI's
chapter meets at 6:00 PM every Tuesday in the Memorial Union, Room 318).
I also encourage those who agree with Mr. Goodish to let us know why. Will
anybody else step up and echo his statements? Perhaps even Representatives
Langevin and Kennedy could take the time to pick up a pen and tell us why
they have thus far ignored this blatant attack on education. Certainly the
First Amendment applies to Representatives too, and your constituents would
love to know what you think.
Sincerely,
Micah Daigle
Co-President, URI Students for Sensible Drug Policy
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