TAKING AWAY AID HURTS THOSE PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION

Former President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, "We have entered an age
in which education is not just a luxury permitting some men an
advantage over others. It has become a necessity without which a
person is defenseless in this complex industrial society." It is for
this reason that the landmark Higher Education Act was passed in 1965
to insure every child in America more equal access to education. In
1998, Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) tacked a provision onto this law that
is against the very spirit of the Higher Education Act.

This amendment, the Drug-Free Student Aid Provision, denies federal
financial aid to students with drug convictions for periods ranging
from one year to indefinitely, depending on the conviction. Students
may have the aid reinstated only if they complete a rehabilitation
program and pass two drug tests.

What's wrong with this law? It hurts the working class students who
need federal financial aid. These students may not have enough money
for the drug treatment that could reinstate their aid, especially
considering how little money the federal government puts into such
programs. The law has no impact on wealthy students with drug
convictions.

The provision discriminates against minorities. For example, African
Americans comprise 13 percent of the nation's population and 13
percent of the nation's drug users, yet this demographic constitutes
55 percent of drug convictions. African Americans and other
minorities are disproportionately affected by this law.

Has this law reached its goal of making students free from drugs?
Look around campus and decide for yourself. Denying underprivileged
students education, which has been proven repeatedly to be the best
anti-drug and the best weapon against poverty, has not reduced drug
use.

Some may say that financial aid is a privilege, not a right. However,
this privilege is being afforded to thieves, rapists, murderers and
others convicted of violent crimes. What makes those with drug
convictions, many of which are non-violent, less worthy of education
than other criminals? Don't they deserve a second chance too?

Apparently not. Once others pay their debt to society based on the
sentence the judge hands down to them they are free to rebuild their
lives. Those convicted of drug crimes, no matter how minor, are
denied access to education, which is so essential to succeed in
today's society.

The first thing we must all do as students who understand the
importance of education is write Congress, encouraging them to
support HR 786, which repeals the provision.

The second thing we must do is encourage the Student Association to
join nearly a hundred other student government across the country to
pass a resolution saying that they, as representatives of our student
body, encourage Congress to reevaluate the law based on its flaws.

The SA has an opportunity to do this Tuesday and I hope they will, as
the SA did two years ago.