INDIVIDUALS MUST BE EDUCATED, DESERVE SECOND CHANCE

To the Cigar,

I am a URI Grad (2002), and a former Cigar Columnist, who still likes to
keep up on the affairs of the University. I was also a founding member of
H.O.P.E. (The Hemp Organization for Prohibition Elimination), which is now
referred to as S.S.D.P.

Normally, I would never take time out of my busy schedule as a law student
to respond to an article in my school newspaper. However, I was absolutely
appalled by the short "letter" titled, "Just say no to druggies."

The individual who wrote this letter clearly has no idea of the severe
detriment that the HEA Drug Provision is creating.

Having the ability to get a second chance is a major underlying principle on
which this country was founded. People make mistakes, and our justice system
even allows murderers to have a second chance. If this is so, why can't an
individual who was charged with petty drug use, receive financial aid.
Education is the answer to social problems, not expulsion. Our country's
inability to realize this simple truth has put our social orders in further
disarray.

While this individual says, "I don't want my daughter going to school with
people involved with drugs," he fails to realize that one day, whether he
believes it or not, his "daughter" may be involved in casual drug use. And
I'm sure he would just love to see his beautiful and bright daughter
stripped of her education opportunities over such a minor mistake.

Our country, long ago, established rules safeguarding us from cruel and
unusual punishment, and if this isn't just that, I don't know what is.

- -Keith Forman