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Students protest drug offense question on FAFSA
Heather Turner
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News
Students will have the opportunity to voice their opinions as to whether those who have committed a drug offense should be able to receive federal aid.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy will provide computers and phones from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 15 on the Quad for students to contact their representatives to comment on whether or not the drug offense question should be on the FAFSA form. The demonstration is part of a larger national campaign by SSDP chapters on college campuses across the country, said Kevin Richardson, executive director of the University's chapter of SSDP.
Students who are convicted of a drug offense while already receiving federal student aid currently are not eligible to receive more government-financed aid, according to the FAFSA Web site. The length of time students are suspended from aid eligibility depends on the drug offense, Richardson said.
"If you're caught with just possession, you lose [federal aid] for one year," Richardson said. "The second time it's two years. The third time it's permanently."
Richardson said the penalty is more severe for those convicted of selling drugs.
In July the Senate passed the Higher Education Access Act of 2007, which expands funding for federal aid, with the question still on the FAFSA form, according to Library of Congress Records. SSDP members hope to convince enough members of the House of Representatives to keep the question off of the FAFSA form before the bill is passed sometime in October or November.
Richardson said he thinks there is a good chance the question will be removed because the House drafted an earlier version of the bill that did not include the amendment containing the question.
"We're hoping there's a good chance that it will go through the House without the question, and then when it comes to the committee that decides on the final bill, they'll end up siding with the House version," Richardson said.
Rep. Rebecca McClanahan, D-Kirksville, said she is open to discuss the issue with students, even though she is not involved directly with the legislation.
Students for Sensible Drug Policy will provide computers and phones from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 15 on the Quad for students to contact their representatives to comment on whether or not the drug offense question should be on the FAFSA form. The demonstration is part of a larger national campaign by SSDP chapters on college campuses across the country, said Kevin Richardson, executive director of the University's chapter of SSDP.
Students who are convicted of a drug offense while already receiving federal student aid currently are not eligible to receive more government-financed aid, according to the FAFSA Web site. The length of time students are suspended from aid eligibility depends on the drug offense, Richardson said.
"If you're caught with just possession, you lose [federal aid] for one year," Richardson said. "The second time it's two years. The third time it's permanently."
Richardson said the penalty is more severe for those convicted of selling drugs.
In July the Senate passed the Higher Education Access Act of 2007, which expands funding for federal aid, with the question still on the FAFSA form, according to Library of Congress Records. SSDP members hope to convince enough members of the House of Representatives to keep the question off of the FAFSA form before the bill is passed sometime in October or November.
Richardson said he thinks there is a good chance the question will be removed because the House drafted an earlier version of the bill that did not include the amendment containing the question.
"We're hoping there's a good chance that it will go through the House without the question, and then when it comes to the committee that decides on the final bill, they'll end up siding with the House version," Richardson said.
Rep. Rebecca McClanahan, D-Kirksville, said she is open to discuss the issue with students, even though she is not involved directly with the legislation.
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