Picketer protests federal aid form
by Chris Taylor, managing editor

     NE Campus students traveling through the intersection at Harwood and Precinct Line roads were rewarded with an unusual sight Thursday, Nov. 16.

     A man carrying a sign protesting a question about drug arrests on the student financial aid application stood on the corner handing out flyers.

     Steve Helms, a member of the Drug Policy Forum of Texas, which promotes open discussion on the war on drugs and its failures, handed out information to interested motorists.

     “I’m doing this because I pay taxes in this college district, and I can’t get access to the free speech zone (on NE Campus),” Helms said.
     At issue is question number 28 on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which asks if the applicant has ever been convicted of an illegal drug offense.

     “It appears that we will allow rapists and murderers to have aid, but a drug offense is considered the greater evil and can cause you to be denied. I think the government’s priorities are not in order,” Helms said.

     “Over 7,000 people have been denied aid because of drugs and 100,000 people have refused to answer the question.

     “Now if you refuse to answer the question, you will be treated as though you answered yes to the question,” he said.

     The question reads “If you have never been convicted of any illegal drug offense, enter 1 in the box.” It also states that a drug conviction does not necessarily make one ineligible for aid.

     A web address is given for inquiries about the drug conviction question, but the URL turned out to be a dead link. A phone call to the toll-free number for questions about the issue connected to a voice mailbox that had not been updated in a week.

     Helms understands the frustration, which is why he is trying to spread the message.

     “I’ve tried repeatedly to talk to Dr. Paula Vastine, director of student development services, and she has not responded at all. I’ve sent letters, e-mails and made countless phone calls, but I’ve been denied access to the free speech zone on campus.

     “As long as the administration is going to ignore me, protesting is the only way to spread the message,” he said.

     Vastine-Norman responded by saying that Helms “had access to the free-speech zone equal to that of the students.

     “We gave him the opportunity to access either of the free speech zones on campus. He wanted a table where he could hand out his flyers, and we were willing to allow that.

     “But we would not allow him to accost or solicit people, which is against TCC policy,” Vastine-Norman said.

     The free speech zones on the NE Campus are in front of the Communication Arts Building or in the Student Center. This area is where flyers and pamphlets can be handed out.

     “I talked to him on the phone. He did receive a response and apparently did not like his options,” Vastine said.