COLLEGE AID FORM MUST CLARIFY DRUG QUESTION

According to a recent report by the Associated Press (Dec. 29) more than
43,000 college students face possible denials of federal aid this year
under a 1998 law that bans such help to people who have drug convictions.

The ban involves a small fraction of the more than 10 million people a year
who fill out applications for federal grants, work-study funds or
subsidized loans. Question 35 asks, "Have you ever been convicted of
possessing or selling illegal drugs?" Those who answer yes are given a
second work sheet that asks for details.

There's a cunning omission in Question 35. Applicants are not informed that
it refers to misdemeanor or felony convictions -- not violations.

Many states have decriminalized marijuana and possession of small amounts,
so it is not a misdemeanor or felony offense. In New York state, for
example, possession of 25 grams of marijuana or less is a violation; so the
applicant can correctly answer "No" to question 35.

That is a salient point that should be clarified on the financial aid
questionnaire. The fact that it isn't calls into question the motives of
government officials and begs the question, how many students were
wrongfully discouraged from applying for federal aid because of the omission?

WALTER F. WOUK

Director

The Thomas Paine Project

Cobleskill