FAFSA question might be removed

Since 2000, every student who has applied for financial assistance or filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) answered a question that is being debated in Washington.\nLast Monday, an independent congressional committee recommended to Congress that the question on FAFSA forms asking students if they have been convicted of a drug crime be removed from the form, claiming it was irrelevant and deterred students from applying for aid. Problems with the question's wording have been causing controversy in Washington. A new provision has been introduced by Indiana Rep. Mark Souder to change the wording to ask only if a student has been convicted while attending a college or university. \n"I don't think it's a bad idea to remove the question," said Dean of Students Richard McKaig. "I agree with the committee. You have the average person who lives 60 to 80 years and makes one mistake when they were 16 and (might be put) in jail. At least in our society, you can have that same person can go back and receive a degree and make something of their life."\nNow with the committee's recommendations, Congress will decide on whether or not to remove the question by the end of the legislative session, said Tom Angell, director of communication for Students for Sensible Drug Policy. "The drug provision author, Rep. Souder, has said the drug provision is flawed and the enforcement is draconian," Angell said. "He wants a new proposal to include retroactivity. If a person had had a drug conviction prior to entering college, they could still be eligible. But if that person was convicted while in college, then their financial aid would be taken away."\nThe SSDP is a nonviolent, youth-oriented organization that neither encourages nor denounces the use of drugs and seeks to reduce the problems caused by drug abuse and drug policies. The organization is also committed to involving youth in the political process and promoting an honest and rational discussion of additional solutions to our nation's drug problems, according to the SSDP Web site. \nSince the question was added, it has affected more than 157,000 eligible students, according to the U.S. Department of Education.\nAngell said he's been working with his organization to remove the question since 1998 and said they are motivated because eligible students are being discouraged from applying for financial assistance. \n"The (independent congressional committee) said the question was completely irrelevant and the form could deter students from applying even if they were eligible," Angell said. "Somebody who had a drug conviction in the past may think they are ineligible, and the pure appearance of the question is deterring students from applying."\nMartin Green, press spokesman for Souder, said Souder is proposing a provision to the Higher Education Act. In 1968, Congress passed the Higher Education Act (HEA) with the purpose of expanding educational opportunities through the creation of federal grant and loan programs. Federal financial aid programs are the single largest source of student aid in the United States and provide an estimated $40 billion to 7 million students each year. Every five years, the HEA is up for reauthorization, and in 1998 Souder introduced an amendment. Green said Souder's amendment was clear and stated that if a student enrolled in a college commits an offense under federal or state law concerning the sale or use of any controlled substance, that student would be suspended from receiving their financial assistance. \n"A student in school at a university or college or community college who is convicted of drug crime while receiving financial aid can have aid suspended," Green said. "A student may resume financial assistance eligibility if they complete drug rehabilitation program and complete two unannounced drug tests."\nGreen also said the Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee will have the jurisdiction to change to nature of the drug question asked on FAFSA forms.\n"If the reauthorization bill is passed with the correction, the FAFSA form will be changed to instead ask if a student has been convicted of a drug crime while in school."\nScarlett Swerdlow, executive director of SSDP, said turning away students based on a single event does not help to sustain the drug problem in America and deters potential students from receiving an education.\n"Too many students have been turned away at the doors to higher education because of this harmful policy," Swerdlow said in a statement. "Denying education to young people caught up with drugs does nothing to help solve our nation's drug problems; it only makes them worse. Congress should immediately adopt the committee's recommendation."\nOverall, Angell is happy with the outcome of the committee's recommendation.\n"We're very pleased with committee's recommendation," Angell said. "They said what we've said for the past four years; it's irrelevant to deter an eligible student from receiving financial assistance."\nMcKaig agrees with Angell, saying that in our society, a person who makes a mistake should not be punished the rest of their life.\n"I don't think a mistake should prohibit a person from ever getting financial assistance. I think it's a good move that people can make mistakes and yet still come back and complete higher educational degrees."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.