Pubdate: Tue, 31 Jul 2001
Source: Bellingham Herald (WA)
Copyright: 2001 Bellingham Herald
Contact:  http://www.bellinghamherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/43
Author: J. Michael Stephenson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act)

  EDITORIAL ON STUDENT AID SHOWED WRONG THINKING

The Bellingham Herald editorial opposing student aid cutoffs for 
students convicted of drug offenses was correct on only one count. 
The ruling should follow the congressional mandate to the letter and 
should not be administered based on bureaucratic whim. Beyond that, 
the editorial was wrong for at least three reasons.

Student aid is a finite resource, provided by society, and should be 
dispensed to those most likely to benefit themselves and society from 
it. Statistics show that motivated, unimpaired students are far more 
likely to successfully complete a rigorous academic program than drug 
users.

While alcohol abuse (the editorial's whipping boy) may be a campus 
problem, alcohol use per se by older students is not illegal; 
controlled substance use is. Penalizing those engaging in criminal 
behavior is society's way of attempting to discourage such behavior 
and develop respect for the law of the land.

Drug use is an epidemic that undeniably increases crime, strains 
society's social fabric and destroys lives. Reducing exposure of 
non-drug users on college campuses to those who use and/or sell drugs 
is, if there were no other reason for the law, sufficient 
justification for its existence.

J. Michael Stephenson

Bellingham
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe