Pubdate: Thu, 19 Apr 2001
Source: FSView & Florida Flambeau (FL Edu)
Copyright: 2001 FSView & Florida Flambeau
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/1364
Website: http://www.fsunews.com/
Author: Fernando Senra, News Editor
Cited: Students for Sensible Drug Policy http://www.ssdp.org/
NORML http://www.norml.org/

A CHANCE TO PICK UP THE PIECES

This past week, Florida State University's Senate passed a resolution 
concerning the Higher Education Act that would not deny federal financial 
aid to an individual convicted of state or federal drug offense. This issue 
had been addressed in the student senate several times and was raising 
different views from the people involved in the decision making.

"If someone has a serious drug addiction and you take away their financial 
aid then they're never going to get help," resolution sponsor Senator Dan 
Jenkins said. "I would have to say that this was one of the most 
controversial resolutions that we've ever passed, but I think it's all 
about getting people to have a better life and education is the first step 
to securing a bright future."

By passing this resolution, FSU has joined other prestigious schools in 
endorsing the resolution. Yale and George Washington universities are among 
the group that have passed a similar resolution dealing with the financial 
aid denial.

Senators in charge of sponsoring the bill stressed to the people in 
attendance certain key points that would convince them to vote for the 
resolution's passing. The main points brought about by the group are the 
same thoughts expressed by the Students for Sensible Drug Policy which 
state that blocking access to education is counter-productive, the HEA drug 
provision will hurt working families, it may have a discriminatory impact, 
does not increase funding for drug abuse treatment programs and that 
overall it will do nothing to solve the nation's drug problem. Despite the 
efforts made by the student senators and organizations in attendance, not 
everyone was in agreement about the resolution. Some senators felt that 
passing this resolution would add to the school's party reputation and that 
there should be other options considered to get the student voice heard.

"I think it would help us more if we passed a resolution that would point 
out our positive attributes," Senator Melanie Shoemaker said. "For students 
(the passing) could be positive in terms of financial aid. Although in 
terms of the school's reputation and how we're known might be negative."

Other groups on campus that took part in the Senate meetings included 
members of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws who 
feel that not only will the passing of the resolution be good for the 
students, but it will also be advantageous to the school's reputation.

"The passing of this resolution shows that our school is willing to stand 
up for the things that it believes in," NORML member Josh Childs said. "The 
bill has nothing to do with supporting drug policy, it's only saying that 
you want people to educate themselves and move forward in the world. I 
don't think that will reflect negatively on the school at all." 
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