Pubdate: Tue, 02 May 2006 Source: Des Moines Register (IA) Copyright: 2006 The Des Moines Register. Contact: http://desmoinesregister.com/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123 Author: John R. Hearn Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) COLLEGE AID POLICY IS UNFAIR AND INAPPROPRIATE I read "Drug Convictions Cost Students" (April 17). It related that a federal law disqualifies students from federal financial aid for college for a drug conviction, although there is some reprieve if the student completes drug rehabilitation, which includes random drug testing. Wow. This is epic small-mindedness. First, it is classed-based. It does not affect the well-to-do. They do not need student aid, while it throws one more hurdle in front of the economically underprivileged attempting to upgrade their lives through education. Second, it apparently treats a simple marijuana conviction as a drug conviction. Unlike drug possession, there are a variety of other crimes for which there is a victim other than the perpetrator. Most would consider these more odious than use or possession of marijuana: larceny, burglary, assault, reckless driving, vandalism and drunken driving, to name a few. Third, it illustrates drug-use phobia. Illegal possession and use of alcohol is equivalent, yet apparently students with alcohol-related convictions are not sanctioned. The law's author, Indiana Rep. Mark Souder, states the purpose of the law: "Taxpayer[s] should not be subsidizing the education of students who are convicted of...using illegal drugs." If the government were serious about student drug use, it would require colleges and universities that receive federal funding (probably every one in America) to impose such a requirement on the admission of all students. The law piles on more retribution on top of what the legal system has already imposed after the conviction. The legal system is designed to address these issues; college admissions offices are not. In the end, more education, not less, will better serve those with addictions. - -- John R. Hearn Des Moines. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman