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opinion:
our view
Yale
sticking it to the man
Yale University became the fourth university to begin reimbursing
students who lost their financial aid after being convicted
of possessing drugs. Students across the country have been
having their federal financial aid revoked by the enforcement
of a 1998 law.
Although the law is five years old, it was only enforced after
President Bush took office.
Yale joins Swathmore College and Hampshire College in offering
an end run around the law's "Drug-Free Student Aid"
provision. Western Washington University has been giving a
paltry $750 scholarship to students that lose their financial
aid.
Yale and the other universities should be commended for the
defiant actions against what is arguably one of the most disturbing
laws ever passed.
The biggest problem with the law is that it is much too broad
and does not take into account the nature of offenses or the
scholarship of the offender. A straight A student on full
financial aid might lose all of his or her money for the less
than viscious offense of smoking marijuana.
College is the time when many young people experiment with
drugs, especially pot. More often than not, students are perfectly
capable of balancing their academics with their partying.
Some people may even perform better when under the proper
influence. Most students give up most drug use when they graduate
and enter the real world.
By enforcing the law, the Bush administration is trying to
legislate vague morality under the guise of creating a deterrent.
The great majority of college students who do drugs are more
likely to not view this law as a deterrent. Most will probably
see it as an obstacle that needs conquering.
Cal State Long Beach and other universities across the country
should follow the lead of Yale, Swathmore, Hampshire and Western
Washington universities. College students are going to fool
around, usually safely. The loss of a student's financial
aid could in effect ruin his or her academic career and prospects
to move up in the world.
The Bush administration's policies on drugs need a breath
of fresh air. Attacking students who are simply learning how
to live and to make mistakes is the wrong approach.
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