Advertisement

Federal Drug Question Made Mandatory

In a move that could affect thousands of college applicants, the U.S. Department of Education moved last week to close a loophole that had allowed college applicants to leave blank a question about prior drug convictions.

Applicants must now respond to the question or forfeit federal aid.

Over 50 student governments and national groups-mostly civil liberties and minority organizations-have opposed the move as well as the government's continued practice of basing aid eligibility on drug offenses, but the Harvard student community seems largely placid over the issue.

Advertisement

"Personally, I was not aware of this," said Undergraduate Council Vice-President Sujean S, Lee `03. "No one has raised the issue at any of our meetings."

Harvard asks a similar question on its financial aid application, but evaluates respondents on a case-by-case basis and does not base its decisions on federal guidelines, according to Director of Financial Aid Sally C. Donahue.

A Harvard student could therefore continue to receive institutional aid even if federal aid were withdrawn.

"We have [supplemented rescinded federal aid] in certain cases where we have decided that federal guidelines are not the guidelines we should follow," Donahue said. "[But} that's mostly in income-driven situations."

No such situation has arisen in a drug-related case at Harvard, she said.

Recommended Articles

Advertisement