Scholarships not solution

Students previously denied federal financial aid because of criminal drug offenses may be able to get to college in spite of the law, thanks to a coalition of drug-law reform groups. Fund raisers met Tuesday in New York to inaugurate the Perry scholarships, which are aimed for such students. Two colleges, Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass., are also offering loans or grants to students in the same situation.\n Since 1998, the application for federal student aid has asked applicants if they have ever been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs, and denies aid based on the extent of the answers. Congressman Mark Souder (R-IN), who drafted the legislation that put the question on the application, said the law is misinterpreted, and that only students already getting aid at the time of their drug convictions were supposed to be affected. But because of the semantics of the law, students with prior drug convictions are now screened from receiving federal financial aid. \nThis policy discriminates against poor people in favor of the rich, because wealthy college-bound people with the same drug convictions as the needy aren't likely to fill out an aid application. But providing scholarships for students denied federal aid because of drug convictions is just as unfair. Before the law regarding convictions came into effect, colleges and private organizations did not arrange scholarships for students with financial difficulties who were denied aid. There are plenty of students who need financial aid but don't qualify for it because their parents fall into a particular earnings bracket. Many students whose families are too wealthy for financial aid must still work at least one job to get by while in school, sometimes more.\nOffering need-based scholarships specifically for students denied aid because of drug convictions sends a confusing message. Instead of devising aid specifically for such students, need-based scholarships are better offered to students denied aid for other reasons, yet are struggling to make ends meet.\nStaff vote: 6 - 5 - 1\nyes - no - abstain