<p>blame the failure of these parents!</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure 99% of all college students don’t have fake ID’s, either.</p>
<p>Its stuff like this that makes me want to send my kids on a “four year study abroad” program! At least if they are in Canada or Europe to don’t have worry about the MADD nazi’s breaking down the door in the name of zero tolerance.</p>
<p>There have been discussions of fake IDs here before, and the discussions generally turn around a couple of things:
- How bad is it to have one? Some people think it’s really bad, others not so much. There are some justifications–kids use them to get into clubs to hear music, the drinking age is set too high, etc.–and responses–kids should respect the law, underage drinking is dangerous, etc. Naturally, this leads to disagreement about how serious the punishment should be for having a fake ID.
- What is the punishment for having a fake ID? This varies from place to place, and what actually happens may not be the same as what theoretically could happen. It may be a felony, but the police may look the other way. It may be a misdemeanor, but one particular college may have zero tolerance and throw you out. Before you get or use a fake ID, you’d better find out what the risks are in the place you expect to use it.
- How many kids actually have these? A lot, especially in places where they can’t easily go drinking in places other than bars. I don’t know about 90%, but I am quite confident that there are many campuses where a majority of kids have them.</p>
<p>I do not think nearly 90% of students have fake ids. My D and most of her her high school friends and college friends just wouldn’t bother, they don’t party enough to make it worthwhile. There are a few that do (and I think I could name them) but not many. Certainly some groups of kids are more into it than others, but just because YOUR kid might doesn’t mean the rest of them are all doing it (in fact, that is the oldest, lamest excuse in the book – “but everyone ELSE is doing it” – said with a whine).</p>
<p>My RA daughter found a dime bag in the dorm laundry room two weeks ago, and it was traced to it’s owner because of the clothes still in the dryer… One roommate has a record with the police, so the other one claims the pot was his, even though the staff is pretty sure he’s lying. Both men (age 20; it’s an upperclassman dorm, and a substance free one at that) are still on campus pending their hearings. The owner of the pot was in the substance free dorm as a term of lessening the punishment for his first offense.</p>
<p>DD goes to a Christian school. We know for a fact that the dorm rooms are searched during Christmas or Spring breaks.</p>
<p>It’s true that “everyone else is doing it” is one of the oldest lines around.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, so is “but MY kid would never do that.”</p>
<p>Credit to the OP, Hunt, she is not using both excuses, only one of them. Again, I don’t think a fake ID should be enough to get her son booted, but the “poor RM” ought to be referred to as the “poor stupid RM” going forward. And… sorry, but as a parent, my kid is NOT going to a school where I smell pot every time I visit! At least not on my dime. Fortunately, my kids would not want to go there, either.</p>
<p>And how about if we stop referring to a kid who told authorities about ILLEGAL behavior a “snitch”? What are you, the mob?</p>
<p>intparent,</p>
<p>I do realize that there are some perfect children in the universe who never do anything wrong, who never drink alcohol before they’re 21, never smoke pot, would never purchase a fake ID or have premarital sex.</p>
<p>I just don’t know any of them, but congratulations on your good fortune and exceptional child. You are truly blessed and are no doubt an extraordinary parent.</p>
<p>My D also attends a Catholic university in one of those states where possision of a fake ID is a felony. She told me that during orientation, the campus police scared the holy hoo-doo out of the kids with stories about what could happen if they were caught with one. At least at her school, all the kids know that possession of a fake driver’s license is serious business. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t have one, but if she did, she certainly knows the possible ramifications of getting caught.</p>
<p>OK, so say RM was stupid. Is loss of a 4 year scholarship a fair punishment for smoking pot? I am hoping that either there is something else going on with RM, or OP has not heard the entire story.</p>
<p>kayf, while it seems excessive, it doesnt matter what we think…if it is in the rules of the school, RM knew it going in…now has to live with the consequences. He chose to break the rules.</p>
<p>Parent56, this is a chat board, we are entitled to voice what we think. I think we should support changes in rules.</p>
<p>I’d be disappointed, but wouldn’t go ballistic if my kid had a fake ID.
I’d be substantially more upset if my kid were smoking pot.
If my kid turned in another kid in his college for recreational pot smoking, I’d be perplexed.</p>
<p>PS: all of this changes if you choose to go to a school with a strict honor code that obligates you to turn in others who violate rules. If you choose a school like that, you accept the consequences. That’s different, in my mind, from knowing exactly what’s in the handbook of a typical school.</p>
<p>I think that many staight laced B students (and their parents), who did not get an oppotunity have the same scholarship, or any scholarship, but never broke the law would say it that it is fair. I think that the student should have another chance.</p>
<p>We all make mistakes, especially at that age; must it be an academic death-sentence?</p>
<p>kayf…wasnt dumping on you, just like you, voicing what i think…sorry if came across wrong</p>
<p>northeast…i too am hoping that the rules allow for a probation, or off campus housing assignment etc. but i havent read what the actual penalty for violations is…admit havent read every post though</p>
<p>Coley - it’s not about perfect kids, it’s about accepting consequences when you’re wrong. Do you think there should be any consequence for your son or his roommate? What do you think is fair?</p>
<p>Our next door neighbor got an athletic scholarship which states ANY use of drugs or alcohal, in-season or out-of-season is grounds for losing the scholarship and he accepted those terms. If he were to get caught smoking pot outside his dorm, would it be reasonable to revoke his scholarship?</p>