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America’s war on drugs is senseless ““ but at least
our university is educated enough to ignore the excessive
legislation aimed at perpetuating it.
The UCLA Financial Aid Office, which provides students with 32.5
percent of their total financial aid, stated that it will sidestep
the part of the Higher Education Act of 1998 that prevents students
convicted of drug offenses from federal financial aid.
“Ridiculous,” is what Ronald Johnson, the director
of the financial aid office called the amendment to the Higher
Education Act of 1998.
If only more administrators agreed.
Federal financial aid accounts for 58.1 percent of the total aid
to UCLA students ““ losing this aid will have severe
implications for dependent students. Thankfully, UCLA will give
money to students who lose their federal aid under this law.
The Financial Aid Office’s steadfast resolve to provide
for students who need financial aid ““ regardless of whether
they have been convicted of a drug offense ““ reassures
students that UCLA won’t let their education be overrun by a
poorly thought-out law, characteristic of the war on drugs.
The law denies students convicted for possession of, or selling
drugs for 1-2 years of federal financial aid. Additional offenses
can lead to an indefinite suspension of aid.
Not only does this law seek to punish young adults by taking
away their education ““ perhaps the one thing that will ensure
they lead successful lives ““ but it strikes at the poorest
students.
Under the law, both a wealthy and a poor student would be
subject to the same penalty upon receiving a drug conviction. The
difference is that the wealthy student would find it more feasible
to pay for college tuition without federal financial aid, whereas
the other student would not.
If the amendment were really about stopping drug usage, it would
penalize all students regardless of their socio-economic
background.
Our student leaders from Undergraduate Student Association
Council and the Graduate Student Association need to do their part
by speaking out against this law and by organizing efforts to help
repeal it at the highest levels of government.
Our external vice presidents should work with the United States
Student Association to repeal this law and find alternate ways to
financing education that sidestep it in the meantime.
While student support is good, it’s not enough. UCLA is
one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the nation
and what we do makes a difference.
UC President Richard Atkinson and Chancellor Albert Carnesale
should use their bully pulpit to advocate for the students they
serve and call on the government to repeal this unjust and
illogical act.
Anything less makes them complicit in denying students the right
to an education.
Only a concentrated effort by student leaders and UCLA
administrators will force legislators to take a second look at this
flawed provision. Perhaps they’ll get it right the next time
around.