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BILL COULD ALTER LAW THAT DENIES AID TO STUDENT DRUG OFFENDERS

Thousands of student drug offenders could be eligible for federal education aid previously denied to them under a new federal budget bill passed by the House of Representatives last week.  The corresponding bill passed the Senate in December, and President George W.  Bush is expected to sign the act into law shortly. 

Karen Cooper, a staff member at Stanford's Financial Aid Office, said that the legislation is very complex and that it impacts federal aid in several different ways. 

"One provision narrows the circumstances under which students can be denied federal aid eligibility based on drug conviction status," she said.  "The current regulation denies eligibility to anyone with a drug conviction as an adult.  The new regulation limits ineligibility only to those who are convicted of sale or possession of illegal drugs while enrolled in school and receiving Title IV aid."

Students convicted while receiving federal aid will remain ineligible for one year for a first offense, two years for a second offense and indefinitely for a third offense.  A conviction for selling drugs will carry more severe consequences. 

According to the advocacy group Students for Sensible Drug Policy, at least 175,000 people since 2000 have been denied federal financial aid due to their drug records. 

Because the change will mostly benefit older students seeking to return to school after a drug conviction, this legislation is unlikely to affect many Stanford students directly. 

"To my knowledge, the current regulation has not had a negative impact on any Stanford students," Cooper said. 

Judicial Adviser Laurette Beeson agreed. 

"This law would not change any of our policies and/or practices," she wrote in an email to The Daily.  "Judicial Affairs only releases information about Honor Code and Fundamental Standard violations when a student has signed a written consent for us to release their disciplinary records, or if we are served with a court order."

According to Cooper, every student applying for federal aid answers a drug conviction question on the application. 

"[While] some students have had difficulty answering that question correctly...it has never resulted in ineligibility for any of our students," she said.  "I don't anticipate that this new legislation will have a significant impact on our operation or our students."

Cooper went on to speak positively about the new legislation. 

"I believe this new provision gives individuals who have had difficulty with drugs an opportunity for a second chance," she said.  "Denying educational opportunities only prevents people from improving their circumstances.  Any time we're allowing more students to qualify for aid and giving them an opportunity for education I think it's a good thing."

While students had mixed views on the issue, many agreed with Cooper. 

"I don't think drug convictions should have anything to do with whether you get money for college," said Andrew Roth, a freshman.  "It's a separate issue."

Freshman Amy Dinh echoed these sentiments. 

"I think that equal opportunity is an important thing for America," she said, adding that denying drug offenders aid would be "perpetuating their circumstances."

"[Offering drug offenders aid] gives them a second chance if they want to mend their ways," said Yvonne Kung, a sophomore. 

Other students, however, said they were wary of the policy change. 

Senior Gem Chien pointed out that the measure benefits adult offenders, possibly ignoring the needs of juveniles who may need anti-drug education.  She said that she believed government funds would be better spent on younger people. 

Anish Mitra, a freshman, concurred. 

"I think that the money that's going to drug offenders should go to legitimate students instead of people who've been convicted of offenses," he said. 

Sohail Razzaq, also a freshman, discussed the need for financial aid officers to make a holistic decision when evaluating applicants for aid. 

"People who have had some drug conviction history should not be completely disqualified before consideration, but this factor should not be completely ignored either," he said.  "The financial aid officers should be given the authority to decide based on the overall track record of the student whether this drug conviction was an isolated mistake that the student has recovered from or if this drug conviction gives them an idea of the student's current character. 

"They should be given a chance," Razzaq added.  "But just to be fair to those who have had a clean record, [drug offenses] should be taken into account."