Financial aid regulation disgraceful
John E. English’s recent letter is sure to draw a lot of feedback (“Druggies don’t deserve financial aid,” ODE, 03/18). It is so easy (and even gratifying) to criticize absurdities as great as English’s that I suspect many will respond.
The fact of the matter is obviously that the regulation, which makes some students ineligible to receive financial aid if they have a former drug-related conviction on their record, punishes only those of a lower economic standing. For example, a former murderer who can afford to pay for his/her
education out of pocket has no problems to do so. Further, it “punishes” in the most inane way conceivable — denying education.
If we truly think denying education is an
intelligent punishment, all individuals who have had previous drug convictions should be forbidden from attending a university or college. This is, of course, equally ludicrous.
Personally, I would like to see this financial aid condition removed and those responsible for it fired. It is a disgrace to students that those
responsible for our “higher education” could
possibly have been so short sighted.

William Moglia

senior

German and international studies