STUDENT SENATE SHOULD SUPPORT REFORMING FINANCIAL AID DRUG LAWS

Tonight, the UF Student Senate will be presented with a unique
opportunity. Our student representatives will vote on a resolution
calling for the reform of the drug-free student loan provision of the
Higher Education Act.

During the 2002-2003 school year, more than 30,000 students who answered
"yes" to question 35 on the Free Application For Federal Student Aid: "Have
you ever been convicted of selling or possessing drugs?" have been denied
federal financial aid.

Adding this to the two previous years' total, there have been more
than 87,000 students affected by this arbitrary amendment spawned by
Congressman Mark Souder, R-Fort Wayne, Ind.

By the very nature of this provision, students from families of low to
moderate economic means will be hurt the most - those who need loans
to attend college. Whether your views fall to the left or the right of
the political spectrum, all can agree on this: Education is the single
greatest factor in allowing individuals to enter the mainstream
economy and become productive members of our community.

Some individuals believe denying aid to a drug offender will translate
into more aid being made available to students who have not broken the
law. In theory, this seems plausible. However, there is no mechanism
for diverting aid denied to drug offenders to others. The money simply
reverts to the overall Department of Education budget.

Although nearly 90 percent of UF students receive money from the
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program, the remaining 10 percent
receiving student loans are still in jeopardy of losing financial aid.
Student leaders across the nation are standing up to make sure our
fellow students do not become the next victims of Congress' failed
drug war.

Even DEA administrator, Asa Hutchinson, has supported allowing
convicted drug offenders to remain eligible for federal student aid.

Such aid, Asa publically stated, is an important component of letting
drug offenders "get back to leading useful, productive lives."

It is likely that minority students will feel the brunt of the drug
provision.

Blacks receive 55 percent of all drug convictions, even though they
comprise only 13 percent of illegal drug users, according to The
Sentencing Project.

President George W. Bush and John Ashcroft have both acknowledged
problems with racial profiling at many levels, and nothing short of a
complete overhaul of our enforcement and criminal justice systems can
remedy this problem. What the HEA reform resolution can do is help
stop this disparity from spreading into the realm of higher education.

Our student representatives should recognize that America's interests
are best served when its citizens are provided the opportunity to
obtain a higher education. The economic benefits include increased tax
revenues, greater productivity and decreased reliance on government
programs.