College Briefs

Drug question now mandatory for aid

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. “”mdash; In a move that could affect thousands
of college applicants, the U.S. Department of Education moved last
week to close a loophole that had allowed college applicants to
leave blank a question about prior drug convictions, the Harvard
Crimson reported.

Applicants must now respond to the question or forfeit federal
aid. More than 50 student governments and national groups ““
mostly civil liberties and minority organizations ““ have
opposed the move as well as the government’s continued
practice of basing aid eligibility on drug offenses.

Last week’s decision came after more than 100,000 students
left the question blank last year, which the Education Department
attributed to confusing wording.

Students can recover their aid early upon successfully
completing a recognized treatment program.

Seniors discouraged from Naked Mile run

ANN ARBOR, Mich. “”mdash; Wednesday, University of Michigan
seniors will open their e-mail boxes to find an annual letter from
University President Lee Bollinger discouraging them from running
the Naked Mile next Tuesday, the end-of-term tradition begun in
1986 as a prank by the men’s lacrosse and rowing teams, the
Michigan Daily reported.

Bollinger’s e-mail to describes the run as an “event
laden with risk.” Vice President for Student Affairs E.
Royster Harper and Department of Public Safety Director William
Bess also plan to send an e-mail to the student body Wednesday
discussing problems with the run.

University spokeswoman Julie Peterson also said the university
has spent “a couple thousand” dollars on print ads
characterizing the mile as dangerous and a “groper’s
paradise.”

Negotiations stalled in U. Hawai’i
dispute

HONOLULU “”mdash; Negotiations are at a standstill between the
University of Hawai’i Professional Assembly and state chief
negotiator Davis Yogi, as the seventh day of the faculty strike
nears, the Ka Leo O Hawaii reported.

The two parties may meet as early as today, Yogi said, but no
definite talks are scheduled. Yogi told local news media, “We
(the state) want to get back to the table, but not until we figure
where the money is.”

More than 1,300 professors walked on the picket lines last
Friday, according to the UH office for public affairs. Only about
300 of the 1,982 UHPA employees at UH Manoa ignored the strike
lines. Fewer than 400 classes were taught on Friday, out of more
than 1,200 classes scheduled on the Manoa campus, and
administrators said they will try to make up lost class time for
students.

Students worried about parents’
access

AUSTIN, Texas “”mdash; A new program that gives parents limited
access to student records has some students fearful of unrestricted
parental meddling, but University of Texas, Austin officials say
the program is designed only for convenience, not privacy
infringement, the Daily Texan reported.

The eProxy program was created this semester as a way to give
parents access to students’ housing status, housing bill
information, Dining Dollars transactions and bill information, but
only if a student authorizes a parent’s request.

If the request is granted, parents have access to the
information for up to one year with a UT Electronic Identification
“guest pass.”

The program has some students worried, because increasing
parental access to student information sets a dangerous precedent,
they say.

Compiled from University Wire reports.