The Higher Education The Higher Education Act Drug ProvisionAct Drug Provision

Turning the War on DrugsTurning the War on Drugs

into ainto a

War on EducationWar on Education

SSDP leads the student movement to repeal the SSDP leads the student movement to repeal the HEA Drug ProvisionHEA Drug Provision

SSDP is part of the Coalition for Higher SSDP is part of the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform, or CHEAREducation Act Reform, or CHEAR

SSDP’s efforts have been covered extensively in SSDP’s efforts have been covered extensively in the Mediathe Media

More than 110 Student Governments passed More than 110 Student Governments passed resolutions calling for repealresolutions calling for repeal

The Drug Provision’s DaddyThe Drug Provision’s Daddy

This provision was added to the Higher This provision was added to the Higher Education Act in 1998 by Congressman Mark Education Act in 1998 by Congressman Mark Souder (R-IN)Souder (R-IN)

Impact

Since its inception in 1998, the HEA Drug Provision has already denied aid to over 157,000 students

This doesn’t count those who were deterred from applying because they knew they would be denied aid

What’s wrong with the Drug Provision?

It’s racist Punishes students twice for the same crime Only affects the poor and middle class Only increases the harms associated with

substance abuse

details…

Racism African Americans comprise 13

percent of the US population and 13 percent of all drug users, BUT they account for over 55 percent of drug convictions.

Thanks to racial profiling, the HEA Drug Provision keeps people of color out of school at a higher rate than the general population.

Punishes twice Students who are denied aid because

of the Drug Provision have already been punished through the criminal justice system

There is absolutely no reason to take away young people’s access to education in addition to the penalties they’ve already received

Class warfare

Students of well-to-do families don’t need to worry about losing access to school because of drugs

They can likely afford to pay for tuition without public aid

They can also usually afford to hire lawyers to avoid convictions altogether.

Misguided policy When a young person gets into

trouble with drugs, the last thing we should do is prevent them from working towards achieving a higher education

The Drug Provision simply pushes students back toward the streets, where they are more likely to continue their involvement with drugs

A solution – H.R. 685• H.R. 685, a bill in the US

House of Representatives, would repeal the HEA Drug Provision

• Introduced by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), the bill currently has 70 cosponsors in the House

Organizational supportOrganizational support The Coalition for Higher Education The Coalition for Higher Education

Act Reform (CHEAR) was formed in Act Reform (CHEAR) was formed in opposition to the Drug Provision. opposition to the Drug Provision. Member organizations include:Member organizations include:

ACLU, NAACP, American Association of People ACLU, NAACP, American Association of People with Disabilities, Association for Addiction with Disabilities, Association for Addiction Professionals, National Association for Public Professionals, National Association for Public Health Policy, National Association of Student Health Policy, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, United States Financial Aid Administrators, United States Student AssociationStudent Association

The Media is On Our SideThe Media is On Our Side

There have been thousands of local There have been thousands of local and national newspaper stories about and national newspaper stories about SSDP and the HEA Drug ProvisionSSDP and the HEA Drug Provision

CNN, MSNBC, MTV and many local CNN, MSNBC, MTV and many local news stations interview SSDP news stations interview SSDP activists about the HEA Drug activists about the HEA Drug ProvisionProvision

SSDP Campaign StrategySSDP Campaign StrategyGarner Campus, Media and Legislative Garner Campus, Media and Legislative

SupportSupport

Persuade Student and Faculty Persuade Student and Faculty Government, University Chancellor to Government, University Chancellor to Endorse RepealEndorse Repeal

Submit op-ed or Letters to the Editor Submit op-ed or Letters to the Editor Demanding RepealDemanding Repeal

Lobby your Senators and Congressman Lobby your Senators and Congressman for Repealfor Repeal

Work with your university Work with your university administration to replace financial aid administration to replace financial aid to HEA Victimsto HEA Victims

Vehicles for RepealVehicles for Repeal ONDCP re-authorizationONDCP re-authorization

The Higher Education Act should be The Higher Education Act should be re-authorized this yearre-authorized this year

Second Chance ActSecond Chance Act

John W. Perry Scholarship John W. Perry Scholarship FundFund

SSDP, along with the Drug Reform SSDP, along with the Drug Reform Coordination Network (DRCNet) has Coordination Network (DRCNet) has established a scholarship fund to established a scholarship fund to help victims of the Drug Provision help victims of the Drug Provision attend school.attend school.

If you know anyone who has been If you know anyone who has been denied aid because of a drug denied aid because of a drug conviction, LET SSDP NATIONAL conviction, LET SSDP NATIONAL KNOW!KNOW!

It is up to us, the students, It is up to us, the students, to be the leading voices to be the leading voices calling for repeal of the HEA calling for repeal of the HEA Drug Provision – a misguided Drug Provision – a misguided policy that directly targets uspolicy that directly targets us