All my friends were expelled - Page 3

Lysenko

Iceland2128 Posts

July 17 2011 07:09 GMT

#41

On July 17 2011 12:28 TOloseGT wrote:
Zero tolerance is such a bullshit excuse. I feel sorry for Reed, the guy didn't deserve that one bit.

One thing to keep in mind is that there's a Federal law in the U.S., which has been in place since the early 90s, that says that universities that do not actively work to prevent underage drinking can lose all (that is, 100%) of their Federal funding, including research grants and all other assistance.

Harvard University receives many millions of dollars per year from the Federal government in the form of research grants, educational grants, and graduate student fellowships. So, they put policies in place to protect that, by making sure that their students (including summer students) know that underage drinking is not acceptable.

Different schools respond to this requirement in different ways, but there's a lot at stake for a school that doesn't set strict rules, and enforce them, particularly one as prominent as Harvard University.

Edit: I'm sure the people who made this decision wish they could have had more flexibility.

Servius_Fulvius

United States947 Posts

July 17 2011 08:39 GMT

#42

On July 17 2011 02:12 Banteng wrote:
So right now, I'm taking classes at Harvard's summer program for high school students. Basically it's a trial run for college, except that the amount of courses you can take are capped at 8 credits. These credits actually go on our college transcripts. There are no rules, curfews or otherwise, except for their zero tolerance policy for alcohol.

Well, with the reputation Harvard has it can afford to be super strict on whatever they choose when it comes to enforcing policy. I was a freshman RA for three years and had to deal with administrative crap day in and day out. Those who work in student affairs either get where they are by being a great person (and great at what they do), or a total tight-wad (while being good at what they do). Sounds like you got the latter. Once again, given the reputation of the school and that newfound freedom can be a powderkeg of bad decisions I'm not at all surprised that they'd get rid of everyone.

The case of the friend who helped the girl is a bit distressing since on the surface it doesn't seem like he did anything wrong. And honestly I feel like he did the right thing. But what he did probably doesn't fit the scope of the rules that were enforced on him. My guess is that the University has either a policy or procedure of when someone drinks too much (we had these as RA's - you only had to vomit to justify an ambulance call, but you could be fired if you made a judgement call and the wrong person heard about it (which was almost never)). Plus there might be some community living standard they didn't uphold to the "T" or SOMEthing.

Either way, it all comes down to an administrator who has decided not to bend the rules or give any exception. This people suck, and I'm sorry it affected you. Thank God for girlfriends, indeed!

Grantiere

United States129 Posts

July 17 2011 08:48 GMT

#43

On July 17 2011 08:18 Banteng wrote:

Show nested quote +

One of my friends had a fake. People really don't check too hard.

I feel just awful for my friend Reed- his case is definitely the exception here. I really wish I could have argued well enough to save him, but the precedent is the precedent exactly as Morfildur said. They really couldn't have let up any ground on their policy, as clunky and impersonal as it is.

How long have you known Reed? Why would your friends have him take care of the sick girl? Is he capable of distinguishing between whether someone he didn't watch drink has drunk a little too much or a lot too much? If the girl had gotten alcohol poisoning, or Reed had raped her, who would be responsible / liable? People always think that shit doesn't happen to people they know, except it happens.

I understand you feel lonely, and that you haven't taken a moral stance in your posts, but for the other people here claiming a great injustice was done - every person who was expelled made a serious error in judgment. Reed's good intentions don't absolve him of that.

OpticalShot

Canada6330 Posts

July 17 2011 15:23 GMT

#44

I'm sorry for your loss of friends, but they pretty much got what they deserved (except for the guy who didn't drink but got expelled for not reporting). Part of being in prestigious communities (like Harvard) is obeying the rules until you're great enough to stretch them and cross over. As young new-joiners, your crowd should have known and acted accordingly.

kane]deth[

Canada368 Posts

July 17 2011 18:17 GMT

#45

I know it's hard to say goodbye too, as many of the people at that summer program come from far away and you might not be able to see them again, so I feel sad for you.

I have a friend who's currently taking classes there, and I live in Toronto, so I know that people can come from far away.

Prev 1 2 3 All

Please or register to reply.

All my friends were expelled - Page 3

Completed

Ongoing

Upcoming