Law revised to give students with drug convictions second chance for aid

Early last week, Congress gave 175,000 students with previous drug convictions a second chance to receive financial aid, revising the Drug Provision Law for the first time in seven years.

Until now, the controversial law allowed the government to block aid from students convicted on drug charges. Congress recently chose to reconsider the law for the first time since it was passed as part of the 1998 Higher Education Act.

The revision will now allow some students with past offenses to receive aid, but those convicted while enrolled in college will still lose eligibility.

"The first time a student is caught with drugs, they will be denied financial aid for one year. The second time they are caught, two years. The third time, financial aid will be suspended indefinitely," said Ton Angell, campaign director for Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

Angell said he is happy with the revisions Congress has made, but he is also concerned about the tens of thousands of other students left behind.

"This law causes drug abuse," he said. "There are students who rely on financial aid to pay for their education, and by taking that away they are forced to drop out of school. Now they are out on the streets and are more prone to use drugs."

Annie E., a junior English major who declined to give her last name, said she disagrees with Angell's concerns.

"Being someone who does rely greatly on financial aid, I can see how devastating it would be to lose that," she said. "But if you're going to do something illegal and actually get caught, you deserve to pay the price."

"The issue is a two-sided dagger," said Scott Kapperman, a senior English major. "You don't want to be forcing high-risk youths out into the streets by denying them the chance to go to college. However, by lowering the standards of the law, you are sending a message to youths that it may be alright to make a mistake 'just once,' as you will now have a second chance to apply for financial aid."

In Kapperman's opinion, financial aid shouldn't be a given for potential college-bound youths, but rather looked upon as an "un-guaranteed perk."

The issue of financial aid aside, many people - both students and administrators - don't think the law is an effective tool for discouraging drug use on college campuses.

"Someone isn't going to say, 'Well gosh, if I do drugs I could lose my financial aid,' " said Dennis Black, vice president for Student Affairs. "These are two separate issues: a drug issue and a school issue. They're just using the education system as a way to push for the law against drugs."

Black is not alone in his theory that the threat of losing financial aid is not an efficient tool in the government's war against drugs.

"It's like something to look at, not to strictly enforce," said a UB student who asked to remain anonymous. "I've known people who were in college and had federal busts for hard drugs. They were receiving financial aid and nothing happened. This law is so arbitrary."

While the question concerning drug convictions will still appear on FAFSA forms, those convicted of murder, rape, shoplifting, grand theft auto or any other crime will not be questioned. If a student were to have a heavier offense on their record, the government will still deem you eligible for financial aid, according to Angell.

"Based on the lack of disqualification for reasons such as rape, I don't think that it's fair," said Shawn Olizarowicz, a senior English major. "Drugs are far less serious than murder and rape. That should be revised."

Angell stressed that those students who are drug convicts must still meet the requirements for receiving aid.

"This law only affects students who are doing well in school, since there are already minimum GPA requirements to receive financial aid," Angell said. "So, if a student is wasting all their time with drugs and not studying or going to class, they're going to lose their aid anyway."