SG president values time serving students

		Thomas Meredith/Daily Texan Staff Outgoing Student Government President Daron Roberts takes a break in the Texas Senate Chamber Friday. While president, Roberts testified before Texas representatives on such issues as tuition deregulation and placing a student representative on the Board of Regents. After graduation, Roberts will work in South Africa for a year.

By Melissa Drosjack
Daily Texan Staff

Last summer, Student Government President Daron Roberts realized he was in a position to change lives when a single mother pulled him aside and told him that his speech about his UT experiences helped ease her fears for her incoming freshman daughter.

"That's when I realized that this position is a lot more than pushing for a fall break and trying to spend student fees in an efficient matter," Roberts said. "This is one of the greatest opportunities that I have received the potential to connect to people, one on one, who might have a negative perception about the University."

Roberts entered the University in fall 1997 as an indifferent freshman, 300 miles away from home. Four years and an SG presidency later, he will leave behind a legacy of fighting for student issues before the Texas Legislature.

"I entered as a very apathetic freshman, and I am leaving with a greater belief in what students can really accomplish at the University," said Roberts, a Plan II senior.

In June, Roberts will pack up his belongings with passport in hand and fly to Johannesburg, South Africa to spend a year participating in Parliament.

"I think it will be the same issues of faith moving anywhere, making new friends, assimilating into the culture," Roberts said. "But I look forward to immersing myself in a new environment. I've really enjoyed my time here at the 40 acres, and I know that this experience will expand my view of the world."

By Ryan D. Pittman
Daily Texan Staff

In response to a controversial anti-abortion exhibit that drew heated opposition earlier this semester, a newly-formed student group advocating abortion rights is planning an opposing exhibit for the Gregory Gym Plaza April 16-20.

The group, Action for Abortion Rights, formed shortly after the UT student group Justice For All: Students for Bio-Ethical Justice and the national Justice For All anti-abortion organization held a four-day exhibit at the Gregory Gym Plaza in February.

Founding members of Action for Abortion Rights said they were disgusted at the anti-abortion groups' graphic display of aborted fetuses and immediately looked at ways to respond.

"We were very offended at the display and felt it was a direct attack on women," said Jenny Hixon, a member of Action for Abortion Rights and a history sophomore. "Instead of making it a gory and violent issue, we want to put a face to it and show our side of the issue."

Group members said they plan to post "unbiased, factual" information on several large displays throughout the plaza but will avoid using any graphic or provocative images.

"It will be the absolute antithesis of the Justice For All display," said Stefanie Phillips, a member of Action for Abortion Rights and a psychology freshman. "We want it to be something that people feel comfortable walking through. But it's definitely a grass roots effort, not a glossy, national effort."

The group also plans to invite speakers, hold discussions and inform students and faculty on pending abortion legislation in the Texas Legislature and U.S. Congress.

		If you answer 'yes' to question number 35 on the FAFSA: * One conviction for possessing drugs equals one year of disqualification from date of conviction. * Two convictions for possessing drugs equal a two year disqualification from date of conviction. * Only one conviction for selling drugs equals two years of disqualification from date of conviction. * Disqualifications are cumulative * Those in drug rehabilitation and who pass two random drug tests since last conviction are still eligible for aid. Response rate of the question for 2001-2002 was 99.58 percent. The number of applications processed was 3.3 million. So far 98.9 percent are eligible, .02 percent are partially eligible and .67 percent are ineligible based on that question. Source: Department of Education

By Robert Mayer
Daily Texan Staff

U.S. lawmakers and college student governments are taking steps to oppose a provision that makes students convicted of a drug-related crime ineligible for financial aid, a Washington, D.C.-based organization said Friday.

Chris Evans, campus coordinator for Drug Reform Coordination Network, a non-profit national drug policy reform organization, said 51 colleges, including the University, submitted student government resolutions calling for the repeal of the provision. In addition, the U.S. House of Representatives is also reviewing legislation for its repeal.

"I think students get alarmed by the stupidity and by the drug war being constantly waged in their name," Evans said. "This whole war is ostensibly being waged to protect us. We don't like it."

In 1998, a provision to the Higher Education Act added a question to the Department of Education's Free Application for Federal Student Aid asking applicants if they've been convicted of a drug-related crime. If a student marks "yes" or leaves the question blank, he or she must fill out a worksheet detailing the nature of the conviction. The student could be disqualified from receiving financial aid for six months to four years from the time of the conviction based on the nature of the crime either for selling or for possessing and the number of convictions they've had.

A student can regain eligibility prior to the end of the suspension period by going through treatment and testing negative twice for drug use.

Evans said the provision unfairly targets students who, because of a drug conviction, are unable to use college as a means to turn their lives around. He also said it primarily impacts lower-income students, who have the greatest need for financial aid.