Group Fights To Eliminate Drug Provision

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Members of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy inspired more than 80 students to make phone calls to state legislative offices Tuesday as part of a national "phone slam" to repeal the Higher Education Act's drug provision.
"We wanted to raise awareness and have as many phone calls go in to the offices as possible," said Gabrielle Guzzardo, president of SSDP. The drug provision denies federal funds to students with past drug convictions and was passed as an amendment to the Higher Education Act in 1998.

Question No. 35 on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid asks about drug convictions.

Depending on the offense, students can be denied funding for various periods of time.

"It depends on the conviction," she said. "For petty offenses, you are banned for a year. For a felony conviction, you are never eligible."

Since 2000, 140,000 students have been denied financial aid because of the amendment.

"Anyone who genuinely wants to better themselves should have the chance to do so," Guzzardo said. "Education is the best way to do that, and we should support that."

The group set up a booth in front of Zimmerman Library with cell phones and written scripts. The members asked passers-by to make phone calls to the offices of Sen. Pete Domenici, Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Heather Wilson.

Guzzardo said more than 50 calls were made to Bingaman's office Tuesday afternoon, and by the end of the day, his office confirmed the senator would support the bill.

Guzzardo said she was happy about the progress made with Bingaman, but was disappointed with Wilson's office, which hung up on students four times Tuesday.

Guzzardo also said 387 students signed a petition Tuesday to show their support in repealing the provision. With a total of 800 signatures on the petition, Guzzardo said she plans to present them to legislators next week in Washington, D.C.

"I was shocked and pleased with the number of students who participated," Guzzardo said. "Obviously not everyone agreed with us, but we had overwhelming support."

David Nichols, who was making phone calls, said he "really believed" in the phone slam.

"People want to change their life and go back to school, and it just makes it harder for them to do that," Nichols said.

Guzzardo said reforming the provision is the main priority of SSDP because the act is only re-examined every five years.

"It is our main intention right now," she said. "Or we are going to have to wait another five years."

According to the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform's Web site, H.R. 685, a bill to repeal the act, has gained 64 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.

The bill is in its third committee in the House. If it passes in the House or has a co-sponsor, Sen. Ted Kennedy will introduce it in the Senate.

Note: Students for Sensible Drug Policy call politicians.




Source: Daily Lobo (NM)
Author: Mandi Kane
Published: Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Copyright: 2004 Daily Lobo
Contact: gguzzardo21@msn.com
Website: http://www.dailylobo.com/