YOUTHFUL INDISCRETIONS

Congrats to URI prez Bob Carothers, and the URI and Brown student senates,
for publicly supporting the repeal of the provision in the Higher Education
Act of 1998, which prohibits drug offenders from receiving federal loans
and grants to attend college. In addition to punishing what in many cases
is a lack of judgment by teenagers -- not that any of us did anything
incredibly boneheaded back in high school -- the act punishes a
disproportionately number of low-income and minority kids.

Alcohol and drugs are " the curse of the poor, " President Bob correctly
noted in an appeal to Vo Dilun's congressional delegation, especially when
their use results in the denial of assistance to people who want to pull
themselves up through education. (Disclosure: Phillipe works at URI, and
Jorge attended the university and has been honored by the school.)

P&J are very puzzled, however, by the reaction from our elected officials
in DC, judging from the Other Paper. " So far, Rhode Island congressmen
have been hesitant to embrace the appeal . . . spokesmen for US
Representatives Patrick Kennedy and James Langevin were noncommittal. "
Hey, Patrick and Jimmy, get with the program. There is someone who brushes
Mr. Kennedy's teeth every morning, after all, who should be familiar with
succumbing to drug use as a youth.