cannabisnews.com: Drug Free Student Aid Perverts Education Drug Free Student Aid Perverts Education Posted by CN Staff on April 11, 2003 at 13:38:23 PT By Scarlett Swerdlow Source: Daily Californian Pop quiz: Of the following illegal activities, which renders a student ineligible for federal financial aid: a) arson; b) rape; c) murder; or d) possession of marijuana. The answer is possession of marijuana. Through an assessment of need, the Higher Education Act has provided financial aid to countless students throughout the nation. Yet Rep. Mark Souder, R-Indiana, tacked on an amendment in 1999 that perverts the act's noble intention. The Drug-Free Student Aid amendment denies federal financial aid to any student with a drug conviction. To date, 92,000-plus students have lost their aid due to this flawed and destructive amendment. Problems with the drug amendment are numerous, and all are closely linked to the harms of the futile War on Drugs. Fundamentally flawed, the amendment singles out non-violent drug offenders, the least threatening of law breakers, while permitting violent criminals to be full eligibility for educational financial aid. These students have already paid the price demanded by the justice system for their mistake, making the educational sanctions misguided double-punishments. Indeed, judges already are able to deny drug offenders federal benefits, and school administrators have the power to expel problem students. These are the people who know the students best, and they ought to be the ones who decide their educational futures—not the federal government. The amendment is particularly devastating to certain disadvantaged and underrepresented segments of the student population. Denying financial aid hurts only those students who need the aid, specifically children of modest means. The children of the wealthy need not worry about the provision's potential to impact their education: They can afford a skilled attorney and the tuition of a prestigious school. Indeed, the wealthy do not qualify for financial aid at all. Yet loss of financial assistance is a serious setback to a student of modest means. Plus, disparities in the enforcement of drug laws ensure that the provision will have a disproportionate impact on people and communities of color. African Americans comprise 13 percent of the U.S. population and approximately 13 percent of all drug users, but account for 34 percent of those arrested and 55 percent of those convicted of drug offenses. Student governments at more than 100 universities—including the ASUC—have endorsed resolutions demanding the repeal of the drug amendment. The ACLU, the National Organization for Women and the NAACP have also spoken out against the provision. Plus, in Congress, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts, has introduced a bill that would repeal the amendment entirely. Most recently, chapters of Students for Sensible Drug Policy across the country engaged in a Day of Action to protest the amendment. Here, students have launched a campaign to pressure the UC Board of Regents to issue a statement against the amendment. The United States ought to assist students when they seek an education; to do otherwise is simply counterproductive and unfit for our society. The denial of education is not a solution to our nation's problems with drugs. The provision only further marginalizes drug users while heightening the destruction of the government's War on Drugs. Scarlett Swerdlow is a member of the UC Berkeley chapter of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy. Respond at: opinion dailycal.orgSource: Daily Californian, The (CA Edu)Author: Scarlett SwerdlowPublished: Friday, April 11, 2003 Copyright: 2003 The Daily CalifornianContact: opinion dailycal.orgWebsite: http://www.dailycal.org/Related Articles & Web Site:SSDPhttp://www.ssdp.org/Drug Policy Harms Youthhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15444.shtmlYale's Policy Makes Stand on Drug Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12513.shtmlDrug Policy Missteps - Harvard Crimsonhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12497.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by The GCW on April 11, 2003 at 18:44:02 PT I love this pop quiz angle. Pop quiz: Of the following illegal activities, which renders a student ineligible for federal financial aid: a) arson; b) rape; c) murder; or d) possession of marijuana. The answer is possession of marijuana. Awesome. God Awesome fresh new perspective of an age old ignorance....420420420420420420...AHHHH.."Drug Free Student Aid Perverts Education"PERVERTS, with all its implications.But not just perverts: think spiritually beyond.I would like all of Urantia to see this pop quiz.Wouldn't You? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment