GROUP FIGHTS TO ELIMINATE DRUG PROVISION

Students For Sensible Drug Policy Call Politicians

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.