Pubdate: Sun, 20 Mar 2005
Source: Greensboro News & Record (NC)
Copyright: 2005 Greensboro News & Record, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.news-record.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/173
Author: Lanita Withers
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy)

PROPOSAL WOULD END BAN ON AID

Proposal Would End Ban On Aid

GREENSBORO -- Proposed changes to a federal financial aid law would
allow students who have been convicted on drug-related charges to
receive grants and loans that help pay for college.

Financial aid experts said the law could also cut delays for financial
aid applications filed by those without drug convictions.

The Removing Impediments to Students' Education Act would repeal
restrictions that have been in place since 2000.

Congressman Mel Watt, a Democrat whose district includes parts of High
Point and Greensboro, is one of about 50 co-sponsors of the bill
repealing the provision.

"I thought it was a bad idea when we put that provision in the law and
continue to think it's a bad idea," Watt said.

In a statement, the author of the bill, Massachusetts Democrat Barney
Frank said, "The law discriminates against those who most often apply
for college financial aid -- minority and low-income students."

Frank has tried before, unsuccessfully, to repeal the provision.

More than 160,500 students nationwide have been affected by the
provision since 2000, according to Students for Sensible Drug Policy,
a lobby group based in Washington. Numbers specific to North Carolina
were unavailable.

Local financial aid administrators say the provision slows the system
and its wording is often confusing for students, even those without
drug convictions.

"As a whole, the profession just thinks it's a good waste of time and
space in the process," said Anthony Gurley, Guilford College's
associate dean for enrollment.

"Why is it that drug convictions are singled out? You can be a
convicted felon for rape, murder, any of a number of things, but the
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid form) doesn't ask you
about any of the other convictions you may have."

The drug conviction question on the form, which students must fill out
to be considered for federal financial aid, often perplexes students,
said Bill Zahn, associate director for compliance in the financial aid
department at UNCG. Even those without convictions suffer because they
frequently neglect to check off the appropriate box, resulting in the
form being returned.

"The removing of it or clarifying of the language would be helpful to
students," he said.

Currently, the provision applies to any drug conviction on a person's
record, something the law's author said was not intended.

Zahn said removing the proposal would make college more attainable for
some students.

If someone has "gone through rehabilitation and they can get financial
aid, that was the intent of providing financial aid in the first
place, to give students an opportunity to prove and better themselves.
Removing that provision would be removing a barrier that's there."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin