Anti-Drug Law Denying College Loans Protested January 12, 2001
News Summary
A nationwide movement is forming to protest a federal law that denies federal college financial aid to applicants convicted of drug crimes, USA Today reported Jan. 10.Under the 1998 Higher Education Act, which took effect last July, applicants convicted in adult court of possessing or selling drugs could be ineligible for federal loans, grants or work assistance for a year or longer from the date of their conviction.
Last year, 810,000 of the more than 9 million applicants who applied for federal aid left the drug question on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unanswered. The U.S. Education Department said most applicants either forgot to fill in the question or didn't understand it. But officials acknowledged that a small percentage of applicants ignored the question as part of an organized protest against the law.
There were 8,000 applicants who failed or lost partial eligibility for the 2001-01 academic term because of the law.
Opponents of the anti-drug law say it unfairly penalizes poor students and minorities. Previous studies have shown that minorities are disproportionately convicted of drug crimes.
Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) countered that the law prevents students from using or selling drugs and encourages abusers to get treatment.
To protest the law, student government associations on 33 campuses are conducting awareness campaigns. The student groups also are supporting legislation drafted by U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) that would repeal the law.
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