Pubdate: Thu, 27 Oct 2005
Source: Keystone, The (Kutztown U, PA Edu)
Copyright: 2005 The Keystone
Contact:  http://keystoneonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2894
Author: Matthew Rhein
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act)

DRUGS REALLY DON'T PAY

Fair or not, students with drug convictions lose financial aid for
post-secondary education. According to a provision in the Higher
Education Act, students applying for federal financial aid who admit
to a drug conviction lose funding.

All applicants must answer Question 31 on the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that reads, "Has the student ever been
convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs?" If students answer
yes to the question, they are not eligible for aid such as the Pell
Grant and Stafford Student Loans.

Anita Faust, director of Financial Aid Services, said in a phone
interview on Monday morning, "If a student checks yes, we follow up on
that. We call and double check [the student] meant to say that."

According to Faust, after a student confirms his or her financial aid
is suspended and the student has to enter an alcohol/drug education
program.

Length of suspension is "dependent upon the program the student
participates in," said Faust. She explained the education program
length varies from weeks to months, but after the student completes
it, he or she is eligible for financial aid for the next semester.

Mike Tekirian, a senior Business Management major, said, "I agree with
the education program. I just don't like [the suspension] because they
don't do it with underage drinking and that's just as bad as smoking
pot."

A study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released in
September 2005 stated, "During academic year 2003-2004, about 41,000
(or 0.3 of all applicants) were disqualified from receiving
postsecondary education loans and grants because of drug
convictions."

The report also stated 18,000 students were denied $45 million dollars
in Pell Grants and 29,000 students were denied over $100 million in
student loans for the 2003-2004 school year.

While Faust said, "Not one student at KU lost a Pell Grant because of
drug convictions," students elsewhere who have can still apply for
private loans.

Though Faust stressed KU hasn't had a problem with drug convicted
students losing financial aid, there are varied opinions toward the
law.

"I think it's a good idea," said Amanda Pasquale, freshman Theatre
major. "Why should anyone else give them money if they're spending
their money on drugs."

Michael Leonard, freshman Business Management major, contested saying,
"Instead of helping [convicted students] make progress, it's blocking
that progress."

Wendy Bartkus, the fourth-year drug and alcohol counselor on campus,
disagrees with the Act's ruling to suspend financial aid. She said,
"I've had students make bad choices, but they've turned their lives
around. [The law] discourages students. They don't have an opportunity
to see if college is for them if they don't have the financial support."

Congress plans to re-examine the financial aid ban this year.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake