Pubdate: Thu, 25 Oct 2007
Source: Ka Leo O Hawaii (U of Hawai'i at Manoa, HI Edu)
Copyright: 2007 Ka Leo O Hawaii
Contact:  http://www.kaleo.org
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4129
Author: Rachel Cabamongan
Cited: Students for Sensible Drug Policy http://www.schoolsnotprisons.com
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy)

DRUG CONVICTIONS COULD COST YOU YOUR FINANCIAL AID

The Higher Education Act was established in 1965 to provide 
educational resources for college students through financial aid 
programs. In 1998, a revision was added to the act to include a drug 
provision that has since denied or delayed financial aid to 200,000 
potential aid recipients because of drug convictions. The drug 
provision was added to the act as a means of creating a no-tolerance 
for drug-use atmosphere at college campuses nationwide.

University of Hawai'i Financial Aid Director Linda Clemons explained 
that question 31 on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
exposes drug offenders by asking them if they have ever been 
convicted of "possessing or selling illegal drugs" while receiving 
federal student aid. If the applicant responds "yes," then they are 
required to fill out an additional worksheet to determine if and when 
they can resume eligibility.

She added that if a student receives a drug conviction during the 
school year while receiving financial aid, they must immediately 
notify their financial aid office and the balance awarded must be returned.

"If they knowingly or willingly provide misleading information, they 
can be fined $20,000, sent to prison or more," Clemons said.

The law does not affect students with drug convictions prior to 
receiving financial aid.

"I think it is messed up that a minor offense like having a small 
amount of weed can screw up your financial aid eligibility," said 
sophomore Russell Sasaki. "So many students do it that you can almost 
say it is a part of college life."

Junior Michael Okinaga feels differently.

"I believe that it is right to take away financial aid from a student 
who does or sells weed, because it is illegal. I think financial aid 
should be given to hard-working students since not all students are 
lucky enough to receive it," Okinaga said.

The Students for Sensible Drug Policy, an organization comprised of 
international students who advocate the impact of drug abuse and 
fight against counterproductive drug-war policies, is actively 
pursuing Congress to overturn the drug provision. The organization 
feels that this law targets lower-income households because of income 
requirements to receive federal aid.

Applicants who are denied or have their financial aid taken away have 
no alternatives to pay for their education, increasing the risk of 
dropping out of college and turning to drugs further, said the organization.

Tom Angell, government relations director for the Students for 
Sensible Drug Policy, said the law unfairly penalizes students by 
taking away financial aid when they have already paid the 
consequences of drug use through legal conviction. He added that 
while drug offenses can cause federal aid to be denied, there is no 
such law for violent offenses such as rape or murder.

"The law only puts this student eligibility restriction on 
convictions related to drug offenses," said Department of Education 
official Chris Greene. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake