Updated: April 2005
U.S. Student Association • Association of Big Ten
Schools • Oregon Student Association
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WHEREAS A provision in the Higher Education
Act of 1998 mandates that students convicted of any drug-
related offense
(without regard to the nature of the offense or the offender)
be denied eligibility for financial aid for periods ranging
from one
year to “indefinite,” and;
WHEREAS No other class of offender (including
those convicted of rape or other violent offenses) faces
similar restriction
on student loan eligibility, and;
WHEREAS This provision will, by its very
nature, impact primarily students of low to moderate economic
means, and;
WHEREAS This provision will also have a discriminatory
impact on people of color, as their communities are
disproportionately targeted for enforcement of the drug
laws (e.g. African Americans, who comprise 12% of the nation’s
population and 13% of drug users, make up 55% of those convicted
of drug offenses), and;
WHEREAS To the extent that the federal government
involves itself in education, it should be focused on making
it easier,
not more difficult, for citizens to educate themselves,
and;
WHEREAS Education is an important factor
in allowing people to become more productive, well-rounded
citizens;
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, call upon the 108th
United States Congress to overturn that section of the Higher
Education Act
of 1998 that denies or delays access to financial aid based
upon convictions for drug-related offenses.