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 - --- MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe