Law could halt aid to work-study students

Myung Oak Kim, Berny Morson And Felix Doligosa, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 1, 2007 at midnight

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University of Colorado senior Kim Collins works as an assistant manager at a pool hall on the Boulder campus as part of a work-study program.

Because of that job, the 20-year-old is considered a state worker and subject to the same restrictions as lawmakers, according to at least one interpretation of the new gift-ban law known as Amendment 41.

Work-study students at public universities in Colorado could be prevented from taking private scholarships and gifts worth more than $50 because of the new law, Evan Icolari, associate director of financial aid at CU, said Wednesday.

Collins said she had never heard of Amendment 41 until a reporter explained it to her Wednesday. She's upset that she could lose her private scholarships because of the law.

"It's ridiculous," she said.

As supporters and opponents weigh tactics for dealing with the impact of the new law, the effect on work-study students is the latest example of the measure's broad reach. Backers of the law contend that work-study students and scholarship recipients are not affected, but lawyers who studied the law for other groups disagree.Private scholarship foundations and public college financial aid officials across the state are trying to figure out how Amendment 41 affects students and employees.

Cindy Hejl, financial director at Metropolitan State College of Denver, said the school is in a "wait and see pattern" and is seeking legal advice on several questions, including whether the law affects work-study students. She's aware of some students with potential problems.

Denise Edwards, director of government relations for the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce, said the group is waiting to see how the legislature handles the issue. The chamber will award two scholarships this year.

"Amendment 41 has created a lot of hell," Edwards said.

Lawyers for CU said financial aid given by government agencies is not affected by Amendment 41 because the law does not include government groups in the definition of the givers of gifts, Icolari said. But private scholarships do fall under the law's reach, he said. "That's a great concern for us," he said.

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