Drug Busts Hit Students Hard (WI Druggies Lose Financial Aid)

Madison.com ^ | July 18, 2005 | Megan Doughty

[Publius6961]

"Of course, I can't pick up that kind of slack," Bush said, adding that state aid covers only about half of the $15,000 a year he pays for his education. "So it all just falls on my parents, which I'm not proud of. But I just can't come up with that kind of money."

Not this parent!

If my kids partied or got crummy grades, or got caught with drugs, they would be SOL. Permanently, no second chances. Period.

[afraidfortherepublic]

He can't pick up that kind of slack, but he managed to afford the drugs... And the legalization proponents say that Marijuana doesn't damage the brain... /sarcasm off

On a serious note, I say that this is a great idea. My 4 kids worked hard and stayed drug free to get through college and I don't know why we should be giving financial aid to the druggies.

[cspackler]

Now really... if your stupid enough to be driving around with your bong on the front seat, are you REALLY college material?

And besides, whatever happened to paying for your own damn college, anyway?

[seacapn]

"Students who receive taxpayer dollars to go to college are not making the most of it by taking drugs," Green said.

Hmmm, is he sure? I used to know a grad student in a math program down in Texas who has trouble getting any work done unless he took a few puffs. He said it helped him "visualize" the math problems.

Whether it did or not, I looked him up on the internet recently, and it looks like he's done alright for himself.

The law seems inconsistent, to say the least. First of all, why a complete loss of funds? Why not treat it like a fine, deducting a certain amount of aid depending on the severity of the crime? All-or-nothing approaches are like slegdehammers, but sometimes you need a dremel tool.

[somniferum]

I too have known many outstanding students who 'indulged' a bit during undergrad/grad school. I think this is a stupid policy.

[null and void]

Any bets there's already an exemption in place for illegal aliens?

[nothingnew]

"Of course, I can't pick up that kind of slack," Bush said, adding that state aid covers only about half of the $15,000 a year he pays for his education. "So it all just falls on my parents, which I'm not proud of. But I just can't come up with that kind of money."

Things that make you go......"Hahahahahaha!"

FMCDH(BITS)

[Beaker]

"Of course, I can't pick up that kind of slack," Bush said, adding that state aid covers only about half of the $15,000 a year he pays for his education. "So it all just falls on my parents, which I'm not proud of. But I just can't come up with that kind of money."

Get a job or jobs and take out loans dopey!
(Pun not intended)

[tfecw]

If the student is spending the cash on non school related things then his funding should get yanked. If he has plenty of cash to buy things not for school (drugs, booze, cars, beanie babies, whatever) then he's getting too much money from taxpayers.

[somniferum]

Thats an interesting line of reasoning. Should they also deny aid to students who smoke tobacco?

[Nov3]

Now really... if your stupid enough to be driving around with your bong on the front seat, are you REALLY college material?

First, it is "you're" not "your" in that usage. Did you get caught with a bong or a joint?? Second he had a 3.8 in high school.

I can't understand people who cannot see that this is moronic. He could have raped and pillaged, and he would get financial aid, but to get caught with a bong? MAYBE if he were dealing, but to deprive him of aid because he was catching a buzz at 18 years old is ridiculous. We want productive members of society to pay our social security, not burger flippers.

And besides, whatever happened to paying for your own damn college, anyway?

The same thing that happened to self paying your medical bills. The government got involved and the costs skyrocketed.

[Nov3]

Thats an interesting line of reasoning. Should they also deny aid to students who smoke tobacco?

By his reasoning - yes. This forum goes farther downhill everyday.

[tfecw]

"Thats an interesting line of reasoning. Should they also deny aid to students who smoke tobacco?"

Depending on the state and how much pot you smoke, smokes (tobacco) are going to cost less than pot. Some of my friends were heavy pot smokers so they were spending a lot more than I was on ciggs, others only smoked once every month or two.
Smoking is wasteful as is getting pizza on Friday night (Ramon noodles are so much cheaper) and so on. I had fun in college and feel there is more to it than sitting in the library 24/7 because you are on government money.

It is harder to justify applying for government money after you just bought a brand new car, or have all designer clothes and 200 pounds of gold chains around your neck. Obviously I don't want the government tracking your purchases or auditing kids, but it is an interesting line of thought.
I like to avoid all these complications and just have the feds stop handing out money to everyone that asks. ;)

[somniferum]

Thanks for the clarification.

The thing I would like to see tied to recieving fed money is higher performance standards. I haven't perused the FAFSA policies in a while, but (correct me if I am wrong anyone), the 'satisfactory academic progress' standard was something like a 1.0 GPA to remain elliglbe for aid. Contrast that to a state grant that I recieved which required a 3.5 cumulative GPA to remain eligible.

[cspackler]

The same thing that happened to self paying your medical bills. The government got involved and the costs skyrocketed.

I worked my way through college, paid for it all myself. If you want to serve off of the government, pay the consequences. Or, just get a job and work for it.

And no, never got caught with a bong, I was too busy working 40 hours a week and studying to waste my time doing it.

[cspackler]

The government got involved and the costs skyrocketed.

And no, the government doesn't pay my health insurance, either. I do that myself as well.

[Nov3]

I don't think you understand the basic concept.

[cspackler]

Oh, but I do. So many people seem to think that they are "owed" something. This kid was being given aid to attain his personal education through my and your tax money. He got busted being stupid, and got his free ride yanked away, and now he feels as though he is being "denied" something as if it were his "right" to have in the first place. What he had was a precious gift of help to attain an education, and he pissed it away. Sorry, no sympathy from a guy who busted his balls working 40 hours a week to pay for his own education.

He should suck it up and get a job, he might just appreciate what he screwed up a little more.

[Nov3]

No you don't.

[cspackler]

Well then, thanks for clearing that up so succinctly.