SA DISPUTES DRUG QUESTION

GW students are joining others around the nation in fighting a law
that strips them of financial aid for past or current drug offenses.

Question 35 on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form asks
students if they have been convicted of possessing or selling illegal
drugs while over the age of 18 (tobacco and alcohol are excluded). If
they leave it blank, aid is delayed. If they have been convicted, aid
can be permanently restricted.

On Tuesday the Student Association joined more than 100 student
governments around the nation in signing a petition encouraging
Congress to remove the question because it unfairly denies students
needed funds.

"This law unlike any other law pulls students out of the classroom
for minor mistakes," said junior Sam Mcree, president of Students for
a Sensible Drug Policy, at the SA meeting. "This law is preventing
people from bettering themselves."

During former President Bill Clinton's administration, the question
was more vague and students often left it blank, leading financial
aid offices to assume the student had no conviction, said Daniel
Small, director of student financial assistance at GW. But the Bush
administration has taken a stiffer policy on the question, forcing
students to answer yes or no.

The online FAFSA form no longer allows students to submit a form with
a blank question 35.

"The financial aid community does not like it," Small said, adding
that a financially dependent student could lose up to $12,000 in many
forms of federal aid including loans, grants and work-study pay.

Sophomore Eric Daleo (U-CCAS) sponsored the bill, which passed 16-5-1.

"Drug use is an illegal action, and this doesn't prevent people from
getting an education," said SA Sen. J.P. Blackford (G-SEAS), who
voted against the measure. "Not every person can attend GW whether or
not they are convicted of drug use."

Some senators voted against the bill because they felt they would be
advocating drug use by allowing their taxes to fund rehabilitation,
said SA Sen. Maureen Benitz (G-CCAS).

Small said he does not know if any GW student has lost federal aid
under this provision yet, but students have left the question blank
in the past.

Yale University now reimburses students hurt by the law. While GW
President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg said that is not a reality at GW,
he said he does not agree with the law.

"I would like to tie it (financial aid) to murder," he said.