cannabisnews.com: Yale To Subsidize Aid To Students Yale To Subsidize Aid To Students Posted by FoM on April 10, 2002 at 10:04:06 PT By Randall Beach, Register Staff Source: New Haven Register Yale student activists are euphoric that after three years of discussion with Yale officials, the university has agreed to subsidize financial aid of students convicted of drug possession. The new policy change does not affect any current Yale students and no previous Yale students deprived of federal aid for drug use. But those who fought for it hope other universities will adopt similar plans, helping poorer students who might lose their education funds. Beginning last year, American college students were deprived of federal financial aid and low-interest loans because of drug convictions. Student activists estimate 60,000 students have been penalized. Sometimes the offenses were for acts such as growing a single marijuana plant in a dorm bedroom.Federal officials last year began enforcing the 1998 Drug Free Student Provision to the Higher Education Act. The Clinton administration did not force full compliance, but the Bush administration decided to do so.Under the provision, students convicted of drug possession become ineligible for federal financial aid for one year. Students convicted of selling drugs can lose aid for two years."We wanted to address the concern that a student might have to leave school because of a lack of aid," said Yale spokesman Tom Conroy.But Yale will not subsidize students convicted of selling drugs. The policy is limited to those convicted of possession.Conroy also noted Yale's new policy requires students convicted of possession to undergo drug rehabilitation."Higher education is supposed to be so you can better yourself," said Yale junior Jon Scolnik, who fought for the change. "Restricting it for those likely to be arrested for drug crimes - the poor - is irresponsible."Andrew Allison, a Yale sophomore, called the federal law provision "morally wrong.""Education should not be manipulated as a weapon in the drug war," Allison said. "No student should forfeit the right to learn for such an offense."Yale is the fourth college in the country, and the first Ivy League school, to formally adopt a policy circumventing the Drug Free Student Provision. The others are Swarthmore College, Hampshire College and Western Washington University.The law still has its defenders, including the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Officials there say the provision is valuable because it deters drug use by young people.Complete Title: Yale To Subsidize Aid To Students Convicted of Drug PossessionSource: New Haven Register (CT)Author: Randall Beach, Register Staff Published: April 10, 2002 Copyright: 2002, New Haven RegisterContact: letters nhregister.comWebsite: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1281Related Articles & Web Site:Student's for Sensible Drug Policyhttp://www.ssdp.org/ Yale Goes Own Way On Drug Policy http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12484.shtmlYale to Reimburse Aid Lost Under Higher Ed. Acthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12446.shtmlWho Is Responsible for Students Losing Education? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12432.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by MikeEEEEE on April 10, 2002 at 18:05:57 PT Update Bob Barr and a student appeared on CNBS to debate the Yale University decision. Here's my letter to CNBC. I think that Yale University wins the debate, students shouldn't lose an education because of a drug possession charge. This is case where the drug war polices harm people more than the drugs themselves. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by MikeEEEEE on April 10, 2002 at 16:56:06 PT Barr him Bob Barr is on CNBC. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on April 10, 2002 at 12:43:11 PT Remember that other college war resistance era... "There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part; you can't even passively take part, and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at all!"Mario Savio December 3, 1964 Sproul Hall Steps U.C. Berkeley [ Post Comment ] Post Comment