STUDENT GROUP PREPARES PUSH FOR A 'SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY'

A new Brown chapter of the nationwide organization Students for a Sensible
Drug Policy hopes to educate the public about the harm caused by America's
War on Drugs, members said.

Craig Walzer '03, who started Brown's chapter, said the group is based on
harm reduction philosophy.

"People have been using drugs throughout history -- it is natural to search
for external highs," he said.

Over 156 universities and high schools across the United States have SSDP
chapters.

Walzer first got involved in drug education at the Needle Exchange Project
through Aids Care Ocean State, where he saw drug users as "desperate
people, not evil people."

The War on Drugs has caused a variety of harms, said Professor of Political
Science James Morone.

"It's become a perverse area," Morone said. There are over two million
Americans in prison or jail, one-third of whom are there on drug-related
charges.

This is "America's most broken policy area. It's not that drugs aren't a
problem; it's the way we've gone about solving the problems," Morone said.
"I hope students rally to the cause."

Walzer said SSDP's first concern at Brown is to address Section 483 of the
1998 amendment to the Higher Education Act of 1965, which suspends student
eligibility for financial aid, including Pell Grants and Stafford Loans,
due to drug-related offenses.

Depending on the conviction, students should be able to reclaim their
financial aid after a period of time and after completing a drug
rehabilitation program.

One of SSDP's concerns is that because federal financial aid is need-based,
this legislation targets lower-income students.

Its other concern is that unequal enforcement of drug laws targets people
of color.

Walzer said he would like to see Brown follow Yale University's response to
this amendment.

Yale's Policy is to help students by providing rehabilitation and temporary
supplemental aid so they can continue their studies.

No Yale student has lost eligibility for aid under this rule yet, Walzer said.

"We want Brown to be the second university to step up," he added.

No Brown student has yet lost their financial aid because of drug-related
offenses, said Michael Bartini, director of financial aid.

If the situation were to arise, "We would comply with any requirements from
the Department of Education and then review the case in light of all of the
circumstances," he said.

Walzer said he would like to bring a big-name speaker to campus as soon as
possible to draw attention to the group's cause.