HIGHER EDUCATION IS OFF LIMITS TO FORMER DRUG OFFENDERS

Our government denies anyone who has been convicted of a drug offense the
opportunity to get ahead in life by denying them tuition assistance for
college. This contradicts the very principle of rehabilitation we claim to
embrace. If people who have made a mistake wish to pull themselves out of
the ditch by obtaining an education, we should support them.

I do not see that this law provides anything positive to society as a
whole. If anything, it propagates more criminal behavior. Here are some of
the reasons we should request and support a change:

. Denial of financial assistance for conviction applies only to
drug-related offenses - not any other form of crime. Murderers, rapists and
robbers are not denied financial assistance for college. The vast majority
of Americans convicted of drug offenses are convicted of non-violent,
low-level possession.

. The Higher Education Act's drug provision represents a penalty levied
only on the poor and the working class; wealthier students will not have
the doors of college closed to them for want of financial aid. It is a form
of discrimination.

. The HEA drug provision has a disparate impact on different races.
African-Americans, for example, comprise 13 percent of the population but
account for more than 55 percent of those convicted of drug possession charges.

. This law violates the 5th Amendment by punishing offenders multiple times
for the same offense. Access to a college education is the surest route to
the mainstream economy and a crime-free life. Educated people generally
make for better, more productive members of society. This benefits everyone!

I urge you to contact your congressman. Request a repeal of the law that
delays or denies college financial aid to students for drug offenses.

KIMBERLY DUNAWAY Ocean Springs litdebee@i55.com