Approximately 35,000 students are barred access to higher education annually because of a law that denies financial aid to students with drug convictions, according to Students for Sensible Drug Policies.

Students for Sensible Drug Policies is a national student-led organization that promotes education and treatment over punishment for students who are or have been involved with drugs, said Tom Angell, campaign director for the organization.

The organization is currently lobbying against the Aid Elimination Provision of the Higher Education Act, an amendment to the federal law that requires the U.S. Department of Education to deny financial aid to applicants who have been convicted of a drug offense, according to a lawsuit filed by the organization in March.

Under the amendment, any conviction of a drug offense, whether, possession or distribution, results in the denial of student aid regardless of whether the conviction occurred in a federal or state court and whether the offense was a misdemeanor or felony, according to the lawsuit.

Since financial aid awards are based on financial need, the law affects only those who require financial assistance to pursue higher education.

One Sacramento State student agrees that this law needs revision.

“By having a law like that, you are not giving people a second chance, and you are not taking into consideration their situation. Low-income students are more likely to do drugs and most affected by this law,” said Senior Dean Hyman, an accounting major.

While the some deem this law to be unreasonable, not everyone does.

“I feel that this is a sensible law. If students are doing drugs they are not performing in school, and if they are not performing in school, they do not deserve free money. I have never met anyone performing well on drugs,” said Junior Omari Robinson, an accounting major.

“I feel like this is not their money to begin with; you have to follow the rules for what you are given,” said Kristin I. Sibley, anthropology grad student.

Whether or not they agree with the act, university staff members must adhere to the law when taking disciplinary actions.

“Federal laws are for the masses, however well-intended, I think this one has missed the mark because individual situations are not taken into account, said Heather Dunn-Calton, special program coordinator of Student Affairs. “But basically, we follow the federal and state law.”

Over the past six years, at least 200,000 students have had their financial aid denied as a result of past drug convictions. The students had to drop out because they were unable to pay tuition fees, according to the lawsuit.

For more information or to get involved log in to www.schoolsnotrpisons.com .

Lery Chavez can be reached at [email protected]