Model student punished for helping drunk friend get home safely

The Daily Caller ^ | 10-15-2013 | Robby Soave

[servo1969]

School “zero tolerance” policies claimed another victim as Massachusetts high school student Erin Cox was suspended from her volleyball team after giving an intoxicated friend a ride home from a party.

Police determined that Cox had not consumed alcohol, and agreed that the honors student had only come to a party featuring underage drinking in order to make sure a friend got home safely.

But Andover High School decided to punish Cox anyway, determining that she had violated the school district’s zero tolerance policy against drug and alcohol use. Cox was demoted from her position as captain of the volleyball team, and suspended for five games.

According to AHS’s student handbook, student athletes are forbidden from “knowingly being and remaining in the presence of other minors using alcohol or illegal drugs or controlled substances.” Since Cox admittedly attended the party–in order to help her drunk friend–she violated the policy.

But Cox’s mother says she did the right thing, regardless of district policy.

“She didn’t do anything wrong,” said Eleanor Cox. “She did what she thought was right, and I’m very proud of her.”

The Cox family hired a lawyer, hoping to get Erin’s punishment reversed. But the school doubled down, even claiming that Erin had been arrested by the police while picking up her friend. This was a lie, according to CBS News.

The situation has greatly distressed Erin, a model student, said her mother.

“She’s very fragile and I’m worried about her,” said the mother.

An Alabama high school student recently committed suicide after facing harsh disciplinary measures — including possible registration as a sex offender — because he went streaking at a football game. (RELATED: Student threatened with sex offender status commits suicide)

AHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

[servo1969]

(image courtesy of dailycaller.com)

One part of the organization spent years telling her to do something and then another part of the same organization practically expels her for following that training.

Reminds me of when a shop teacher instructed his students to bring certain items for shop class and then the school tried to expel every one of them for bringing weapons to school.

Public schools are infested with chaos and duplicity.

Progressive reasoning -
The 'innocent' achieve their innocence by oppressing the 'guilty.'
The 'guilty' are only guilty because they have been persecuted by the 'innocent.'
Therefore-
Innocence is actually proof of some unknown Guilt.
Guilt is actually proof of Innocence.
Water burns. Fire drowns.
War is Peace.
Freedom is Slavery.
Ignorance is Strength.

[jsanders2001]

I thought liberal advocated getting drunk and high though...oh I see this is about slamming a “Christian” model student for helping someone like themselves.../s

[Da Coyote]

If public schools were cars, they’d be Yugos.

To send your child to a public school is child abuse.

Period.

[G Larry]

She should write an open letter:

I did the right thing and will be fine in life, contiuing on that path.

This unthinking and irrational School administration will continue in their policies, to destroy lives and undermine the character of the students here.

[jsanders2001]

Its spelled out in Isaiah and Jude

[DesertRhino]

Easy solution. The whole team refuses to do anything. It’d catch on like wildfire. Students refuse to show up for class, or anything. Everybody show up for school and sit in the common area refusing all commands.

They would cave. Like vampires, the dictators HATE sunshine and attention.

[I want the USA back]

This is how fascists act. THEY are the ultimate, absolute unquestioned power. What THEY say goes and the underlings will bow down and obey.

But I thought that liberals didn’t believe in right or wrong!

[bmwcyle]

No good deed will go unpunished.

[massgopguy]

A caller to WRKO’s Jeff Kuhner said he was in line at Dunkin Donuts behind three students from this school. They were saying this is why you don’t call anyone and say you’re drunk. You just drive home. Also, if her mother had driven to the party would she have been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor?

[HiTech RedNeck]

The worse contradiction is “There isn’t a God.”

And alas it isn’t just liberals who get into that folly. More and more conservatives do, too. “If the salt loses its saltiness, how shall it be made salty again?”

The solution for situations that seemingly spin out of control is to turn them into the Lord’s hands. Don’t sin, but do love with the love of God as the occasion is presented by God. To use an extrabiblical analogy it is kind of like a spiritual kung fu. Actually, kung fu is a picture of it! Ambush the attacker into either repentance or frustration (their choice) by leading them on.

[HiTech RedNeck]

It does look like a case of judge-by-appearances.

[Guttlekraw]

The purpose of “zero tolerance” policies is to allow officials to maintain positions of authority without ever having to exercise the responsibility that goes with it.

[Still Thinking]

But Andover High School decided to punish Cox anyway, determining that she had violated the school district’s zero tolerance policy against drug and alcohol use. Cox was demoted from her position as captain of the volleyball team, and suspended for five games.

I wouldn't even consider contributing to the athletic success of any institution that places a-holes like these in positions of authority over normal humans. Expulsion from their team isn't really a punishment.

[mmichaels1970]

Ok...here's an issue that bothers me here. And I know I don't know the whole story.

If she KNEW there was going to be a party with underage drinking, then she knew crimes were about to be committed. She also knew that the physical safety of the kids at the party was at risk.

So, doesn't it stand to reason if she is a model student and didn't do anything wrong, she should have at least anonymously reported this before it happened?

[MrB]

What would you expect from a worldview that started with “you will be as gods, defining good and evil for yourselves”?

[RadiationRomeo]

Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but this girl did not get a desperate midnight call from her friend for help. The girl attended the party from the beginning knowing full well that it is a violation of the athletic policy. Is this the case?

[MrB]

The purpose of “zero tolerance” policies is to allow officials to maintain positions of authority without ever having to exercise the responsibility that goes with it.

Can you tell that I agree with you?

[HiTech RedNeck]

I’d think if she was their best player, for her to not even care and just go ahead and do whatever else the good Lord has for her to do during those times... it would possibly dawn on them that they punished themselves more than they punished her.

[Still Thinking]

Yup!

[frogjerk]

Everyone on her team should put a C for Captain on her uniform. She got off her butt and did the right thing.

[Skepolitic]

Students must be face consequences when they disobey, especially in cases like this. This student thought she was above the rules, that the rules somehow did not apply in her case.

Children must be taught to OBEY. They must be taught never to question authority or to use reasoning skills and moral precepts to guide their behavior.

This is necessary to socialize students to function as good citizens in the future. We must all obey our Fuhrer.

/sarc/

It would be nice if her entire team resigned in protest, but doubtful that today's students would value a protest for justice as much as the resume-enhancement that team participation adds to their college applications.

[mmichaels1970]

The girl attended the party from the beginning knowing full well that it is a violation of the athletic policy. Is this the case?

I'd guess she doesn't know anything about the athletic policy specifically. But I'm reading that she went to the party to make sure her friend got home safe.

I wonder if the other drunk kids are on their own.

[Little Ray]

Massachusetts. Anybody surprised?

And just think - the GOP nominated a former governor of this cesspit as its most recent presidential candidate...

[kevkrom]

“zero tolerance” = “zero ability to think”

The equation has been proven again with this story.

[HiTech RedNeck]

It looks like it, and that would be unwise of course.

Better to advise the friend not to get so intoxicated she couldn’t drive, that life means more than getting buzzed at a party. But still, not saying no later if she did get that “desperate call.” Honors students should be honorable, but maybe I’m just being a Neanderthal here.

[JimRed]

No good deed ever goes unpunished.

[Orangedog]

There is no situation so bad that can’t be made worse by calling the cops.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Looks like a mixed situation, with no clear shining halo on anybody.

[frogjerk]

I think that would be being a rat.

The drinking age was 18 at one time but all of the states raised it to keep their federal highway money. It wasn't raised because there was some sort of moral awakening in the country. If you can die for your country I think you should be able to have a drink at 18.

Either way she prevented the possibility of her friend hurting someone else by driving either buzzed or intoxicated.

[mmichaels1970]

There is no situation so bad that can’t be made worse by calling the cops.

I disagree.

[who knows what evil?]

Proving once again that there are ‘Two Americas’...the solution for this family? Penske.

[NonValueAdded]

Is there not an argument that “zero tolerance” is by definition a violation of a person’s due process rights?

ZT may have its genesis due to the tort bar but it surely has been embraced as a refuge for incompetent administrators.

[mmichaels1970]

I think that would be being a rat.

I personally know somebody who was drugged and raped at an underage drinking party.

I will do what I can to bust up everyone I ever hear about. I will encourage my children to "rat" at least to me as well.

I understand that her natural teenage reaction was to do what she did. I also understand the stigma kids try to avoid by not being a "rat" or a "narc". But let's not go putting her up on some "hero" pedestal here IMHO.

I believe real courage requires you to be the "rat" sometimes.

[longfellow]

MASSHOLES!

[Truth29]

"The Cox family hired a lawyer, hoping to get Erin’s punishment reversed. But the school doubled down, even claiming that Erin had been arrested by the police while picking up her friend. This was a lie, according to CBS News."

If this accurate, then the family has another tool for the family attorney to use against the school and school officials. That sounds like malicious slander.

[mmichaels1970]

Either way she prevented the possibility of her friend hurting someone else by driving either buzzed or intoxicated.

And an anonymous report to the police could have prevented EVERYBODY at the party from hurting themselves or someone else.

[Orangedog]

Maybe in a time when every suburb didn’t have a SWAT team and we weren’t living in a police state, but these a very different times

[Silentgypsy]

Good concept w/exception of “everyone showing up at school.” They get $ for each occupied desk. Stay out of school and school loses some funding. Remove funding from a lib and see how quickly they abandon their principles.

[Guttlekraw]

If she KNEW there was going to be a party with underage drinking, then she knew crimes were about to be committed. She also knew that the physical safety of the kids at the party was at risk.
So, doesn't it stand to reason if she is a model student and didn't do anything wrong, she should have at least anonymously reported this before it happened?

First, the facts do not fit that scenario:

Two weeks ago, a friend of 17-year-old Erin Cox messaged her and said she was too drunk to drive home from a party she was attending in Boxford, CBS Boston reports.
Cox drove to the home and snaked through a crowd of teens to find her friend....

Second, there is (with a few limited exceptions, such as signatories to an honor code specifically requiring it) no general obligation to report a crime, much less to report a possible crime that might or might not happen.

[Guttlekraw]

Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but this girl did not get a desperate midnight call from her friend for help.

Yes she did.

(Link to another account that clarifies this point.)

[Guttlekraw]

And an anonymous report to the police could have prevented EVERYBODY at the party from hurting themselves or someone else.

Yep -- when she got that message about her friend being drunk at the party, she should have hopped into her TARDIS, gone back a few hours, and phoned in a tip.

[Silentgypsy]

Or is this a private school?

[frogjerk]

I personally know somebody who was drugged and raped at an underage drinking party.

It happens at regular parties as well. Not making a moral equivalence here but actions and events need to be judged justly

'Rating someone out" depends on the seriousness of the actual offense. I would not encourage my children to rat everyone out for every offense. I would like to know about it for sure if it is serious and there could be much harm being done but it is not Christian to "rat" people out for every offense.

[mmichaels1970]

Two weeks ago, a friend of 17-year-old Erin Cox messaged her and said she was too drunk to drive home from a party she was attending in Boxford

I don't see that mentioned in the story posted here.

[frogjerk]

Maybe in a time when every suburb didn’t have a SWAT team and we weren’t living in a police state, but these a very different times

You are correct because I have seen this type of party being broken up by the local police force. Totally over the top and abusive rather than an "everybody OUT!" type of solution. They were eventually sued and the family won, I believe, for excessive force.

[mmichaels1970]

Yep -- when she got that message about her friend being drunk at the party, she should have hopped into her TARDIS, gone back a few hours, and phoned in a tip.

The way I read it was that she know about it ahead of time. But I probably read it wrong based on other info provided by others here.

By the way, I do not agree with her punishment. I also do not agree with "zero tolerance" bs.

I'm simply having trouble looking at her as a hero in this situation. A good friend, maybe, but not a hero.

[mmichaels1970]

You are correct because I have seen this type of party being broken up by the local police force. Totally over the top and abusive rather than an "everybody OUT!" type of solution.

I guess the over the top and abusive thing hasn't hit my community yet. Parties still get busted up around here with no arrests but a bunch of calls home to parents to come pick their drunk kid up.

We've got some great police in my area. I went to school with a bunch of them and still have a beer with a few every now and then.

I suppose our local community has been lucky in that respect.

[Navy Patriot]

Government (public) school is child abuse.

[snoringbear]

“Everyone on her team should put a C for Captain on her uniform. She got off her butt and did the right thing.”

Everyone in her school should sit out the same days this girl is being suspended as a statement of support for her. Additionally, the parents of this school should take up a vigorous program to immediately fire any and all teachers, administration and board members who had anything to do with this. And, I mean vigorous ......

[Bigg Red]

So, doesn’t it stand to reason if she is a model student and didn’t do anything wrong, she should have at least anonymously reported this before it happened?

***
Glad I’m not the only one who is questioning the girl’s actions. No matter how noble her intentions, she was wrong. Perhaps she should have let the friend’s parents know what was going on.