LOS ANGELES (U-Wire) ? America?s war on drugs is senseless ? but at least University of California-Los Angeles 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 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.
Be the first to comment on this article!