Pubdate: Thu, 10 Apr 2003
Source: Daily Iowan, The (IA Edu)
Copyright: 2003 The Daily Iowan
Contact:  http://www.dailyiowan.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/937
Author: Diana Selwyn

WARRING AGAINST THE WAR ON DRUGS

As we have seen so prevalently during this time of war, lack of information 
leads to harmful assumptions. Today, I write this letter to inform the UI 
of the harms of the nation's war on drugs and its detrimental effects on 
students nationwide.

According to a 1998 amendment to the Higher Education Act, also known as 
the Drug-Free Student Aid provision, any student convicted of a drug 
charge, no matter how small, is automatically denied federal financial aid. 
While many may argue that drugs are illegal, and therefore the users 
deserve this punishment, denying them the opportunity to an education is 
not going to deter drug use.

The provision primarily affects those in lower-to middle-class families who 
cannot afford higher education without financial assistance. Those who can 
afford college do not have to worry about getting punished for the same 
crime twice.

And while some argue that financial aid can be reinstated upon completion 
of a rehabilitation program, the government allocates no money for this 
treatment. It is not likely that struggling families who cannot afford 
higher education will be able to afford a treatment program, and the rehab 
programs are usually filled with addicts who need help, not people who have 
been convicted of nonviolent possession once.

The Department of Education reports that more than 91,000 students in the 
United States have been denied financial aid fully or partially under this 
provision. While substance abuse is a growing problem in our nation, 
denying students education is not the answer. So today, on this national 
day of action against this provision, I ask you to contact your 
representative and show your support of HR 685, a bill introduced by Barney 
Frank, D-Mass., which will repeal this unjust provision. At campuses across 
the nation, students will be calling, writing, faxing, or e-mailing their 
representatives to voice their opposition to the Drug-Free Student Aid 
provision. I am not asking you to advocate the right to use drugs; rather, 
I am imploring you to advocate the right to an education to which people 
everywhere are entitled.

Diana Selwyn

Students for a Sensible Drug Policy 
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MAP posted-by: Alex