Pubdate: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 Source: Des Moines Register (IA) Section: Metro Iowa, Pg 3B Copyright: 2005 The Des Moines Register. Contact: http://desmoinesregister.com/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123 Author: Lynn Campbell Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) Cited: Students for Sensible Drug Policy: www.DAREgeneration.com STUDENT AID BILL GAINS SUPPORT IN IOWA Many Back Legislation To Sever The Link Between Aid And Drug Convictions Some Iowa college students and financial aid officials are hailing legislation in Congress that would once again allow students with drug convictions to qualify for federal financial aid. "We feel that the provision was counterproductive," said George Pappas of Chicago, a University of Iowa senior majoring in political science. "It's basically taking the opportunity of education away from people who may have a drug problem but are wanting to turn their lives around." The ban on financial aid to students with drug convictions was imposed in 1998 as an amendment to the federal Higher Education Act. Certain drug convictions don't count, such as those that happened before the student was 18. Three Democrats in the U.S. House -Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Elijah Cummings of Maryland and Dennis Kucinich of Ohio -today will introduce legislation to do away with the ban. Advocates say the legislation would affect "tens of thousands of students" nationwide who have been denied financial aid. However, the ban appears to have affected only a handful of Iowa college students -about 12 each year at U of I, and even fewer at Iowa State University. "Periodically, one or two students a year are tripped up by this situation," said Roberta Johnson, ISU's director of financial aid. Pappas, 24, president and founder the U of I chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, said he doesn't use drugs but has been fighting on behalf of others who have been denied aid. Cathy Wilcox, associate director of U of I's Office of Student Financial Aid, called the issue a "long-standing problem" and agreed the provision should be removed from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. "It should not have any bearing on whether the students should receive aid," Wilcox said. "People can be convicted for other crimes and still get aid." University officials said they do not keep statistics on how many have been denied financial aid. Johnson said a problem with the ban is that it has relied on students' honesty. Financial aid officials have no way of verifying whether students have drug convictions in their home states, she said. Kevin Owens, a U of I sophomore from Cedar Rapids, is among those supporting repeal of the ban. "I hope they revoke it," he said. "Kids make mistakes." The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mark Souder, an Indiana Republican, has said the law was supposed to apply only to college students convicted of drug offenses while receiving financial aid. His office did not return a call seeking comment. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth