I need some fast advice. My daughter is a Junior at a private school in California. The day before the year started in August, she went to a party off campus and returned to her house confused and stumbling. Her girlfriend was concerned and called the campus police and she was transported to the hospital. She was given an IV and released. She has never had any drinking problem before and has never been a concern for me . she worked every summer since high school , has worked during the school year , is very organized, serious, and before this --has made good decisions. I did not find out about this until the next day . I do not know if she was drugged or if she was drunk. I was very very disappointed with her and she cried for a month. Two months later she received an email asking her to come in before the school judiciary committee which she did . She has lived the past three months in fear and anxiety. she had her entire year planned out since the summer and had met with all of her advisors and registered and was accepted for a Spring study abroad program.
The Judiciary committee dismissed her case -and framed the dismissal as Amnesty. She finally was able to focus on her midterms and her future again. Then 2 weeks ago the Study Abroad advisor said they had been informed by the Judiciary committee that she had a violation and that they would discuss her case with them. She thought she should go in and talk to them but when she emailed the study abroad coordinator --he never replied.
Last night at 5 pm on a Friday she received an email from Study Abroad saying that the Judiciary has revoked her acceptance into study abroad. It is too late for her to register for Spring classes and all the study abroad options are closed now. The rules for her program state that amnesty cases will be considered on a case by case basis. I never got involved because this is part of growing up in 2018, but I really feel this is a Draconian measure. She doesn’t know if she was drugged, the hospital never did a drug check, I do not believe the school can access her hospital record.
They are also not aware of her family circumstances, her brother, who she is very close to has a serious illness and has been fighting for his life. Her father and I also went through a terrible divorce and he fled the country and the children and I lost our home to foreclosure. she has been so strong and responsible, this really breaks my heart to see her crushed more.
Do you think that I should try and call someone at the school on her behalf?
Yes, because however this turns out, she will know you tried to support her.
Yes, it is draconian. Be polite to the college and explain there was a concern she was drugged. But if she was drinking underage, the college may stick to its position.
A lot of this depends on what college, their policies, in the first place, about such things as drinking. I am sorry for her.
I agree with the above. State what you stated here. And it might be time to enlist a little outside help. I am going to pm you with a suggested person who regularly posts here on CC.
Thank you ! I will try to contact Hanna on Monday . My daughter sent a strong email advocating for herself to the judiciary committee but apparently they are saying it’s up to study abroad office.But if the judiaciary had not hidden false claims against her and made it sound like she was irresponsible perhaps she would have had a better chance even with the amnesty charge . No one wants to take responsibility and there is too much secrecy and bureaucracy. I am very disappointed with this university
At the very least the school should allow her to register for spring classes.
As an update my daughter will not be able to study abroad with her University. I was sad to learn that the judiciary chairman has full authority to disclose whatever they want to from a child’s record . Even to medical and law school applications . They say there
Is no recourse . No attorney can help expunge because it’s in the University students permanant discipline record . This even includes noise violations from the resident record , having a beer found in your refrigerator or not signing in a guest properly to the dorm.
I wanted to let the community know so that students take these people in power very seriously . If I truly believed they cared a bit for my child’s safety and well being I think it would not hurt so much. Even though I finally did get through to the people in power on the judiciary committee it was hard to listen to their pre packaged -corporate buzz word speech . They wanted my child to come in and allow them to help her learn and mature during this rehabilitation . process. It’s like they are dealing with hardened career criminals who need to be broken -not a struggling to grow-up 19 year old whose brain has not completely developed yet .
So sorry. But glad you tried.
Wow, that’s a bummer. I’m so sorry.