Post #53 indicates that the alleged violations are specific to illegal drugs or controlled substances, not smoking in general.
1 Like
I am just adding that it would also be an issue in most dorms.
1 Like
Hi all,
Thanks for the suggestions. DS has scheduled a meeting w/ the Chaplain later this week.
8 Likes
Just wanted to mention. I was reading a bunch of admissions files today (for graduate school) and saw two of students who had been found with marijuana. One had to take a class and one had to pay $100 fine. Just to give you insight into completely random other schools- but the type of possible penalties in case it makes you feel any more at ease. Obviously no idea what the penalties would be and its anecdotal- but in case your mind was spinning.
1 Like
Well, that is not very comforting. DS definitely plans on applying to grad school, and hearing that grad schools will know about this is quite disturbing (especially as heâs never been in trouble at his school).
DS went to the Chaplain at his school today. Not very helpful. The Chaplain told DS that she thinks he should just confess and admit to being guilty. When DS asked what the consequences will be, the Chaplain said that she had no clue â it could range anywhere from as strict as academic probation to as lenient as nothing.
The Chaplain tell DS that sheâd contact a few colleagues who had sat in on disciplinary hearings before and would relay back to him what the consequences would be from similar cases.
But it would be awful if this went on his permanent, official college transcript as an academic probation as a first-time offender. He does plan on applying to competitive grad schools.
Some questions,
What evidence will be presented?
Is an ally or support person allowed to assist, student legal aid?
Is there an appeals process?
Is there opportunity for remediation/ education/ community service, and have record expunged?
Im sorry if I added to your stress about it. Applications may vary at different schools and in my field students must demonstrate character and fitness to be licensed so we ask for EVERYTHING. Our questions ask about legal issue (felonies etc), academic dishonesty, then academic issues such as probation etc, and finally we ask if the student has ever been the subject of a disciplinary hearing, itâs not uncommon although usually if they do check the box it means it comes to committee review. But stuff like this we only care that they disclosed it and that they take ownership and donât blame others for it, that it seems like a one and done issue or it is behind them. It only becomes an issue to even note if they blame others and donât take responsibility, it is a disciplinary issue that involves violence, guns etc., or it seems like a repeated issue. We really donât even blink, at least for me, I feel compassion for the poor kids, so many kids get in trouble with open containers freshman year, etc.
But as I said, donât let my comment make you more nervous, beyond it not being a problem, I am sure each school has their own questions. Plus the terms might be different, if what your son is attending is not labeled a disciplinary hearing I wouldnât even note it. I had to answer yes, I had alcohol in my room in boarding school, I worried but it was never an issue ( besides the fact that I am a complete academic nerd so I think it amused some people.
1 Like
The open flame thing may not be an issue if it was a vape which is pretty common now. May just be the MJ issue. And honestly people can just reek of it after imbibing/smoking/vaping so itâs a plausible scenario that the RA could have smelled the friend just after the friend used it elsewhere. I would try not to lie about him using it in the room but also try not to admit that the friend used it in the room. Itâs a tricky thing to pull off.
I think your son should be honest about himself.
â
âI did not smoke marijuana or any cannabis product. I tried it once in high school and had a bad reaction to it and have never wanted to try it again.â
âThe RA reported a very strong odor.â
âA friend was visiting and he smokes cannabis and he may have smelled like it. â
âYou understand marijuana or any cannabis found in your dorm room is a violation of university policy even if it is your friend that is using itâ
âYes. I understand and I donât use it or want it in my room.â
âThis is a serious issue and can result in probationâ
âYes. I understand.â
âIf this happens again there may serious consequences.â
âYes, I understand.â
â
If it was my kid this is what I would advise. Tell the truth but donât volunteer extra info.
5 Likes
Given the above, I would take the advice given above and consult with an attorney who has experience with this type of hearing.
1 Like
What kind of grad school is on the agenda? This issue varies enormously based on the field of grad school. Law and medical school will ask for everything â but even there, the fact that they ask does not mean that a minor infraction will keep the student out. Other kinds of grad school may not ask, and in general they care less about this kind of thing.
Note that whether itâs written on the transcript is not the same thing as whether it is permanently recorded. It would surprise me if this went onto the transcript, but it will still have to be disclosed if schools ask.
3 Likes
Iâve worked with the staff who hold these type of disciplinary hearings and this is exactly what I would recommend. Your son didnât smoke in the room or keep drugs in his room and he should make sure that is clear. I would also try to gloss over the fact that the friend smoked? vaped? in the room but if asked directly I would advise being truthful about that as well âYes, but as soon as I realized he was doing that I asked him to put it out and we left the room because I donât want that in my room.â
7 Likes
Great questions. DS does not have any idea about these 
Conduct hearing is scheduled for the upcoming week. DS talked to a few other students at his school who have been caught for weed. Consequences could range from a verbal warning to academic probation, depending on the mood of the person holding the meetingâŠ
I think that was probably the interpretation of the student. The consequences are most likely based on the evidence they have that a rule was broken. Thatâs where Sweetgumâs suggestion is a good one. They did not find marijuana on your son or in is room. The room had a strong odor. I doubt they would go for academic probation because his room smelled. 
2 Likes
Could definitely be evidence, could also be the attitude of the student - whether contrite, respectful, and apologetic or whether defensive and snarky.
8 Likes
I definitely agree which is why I advised DS to plea guilty and take responsibility. Who knows what will happen in terms of consequencesâŠ
1 Like
He should be very clear about what happenedâŠhe was guilty of succumbing to peer pressure by not immediately being strong enough to stop his HS friend from smoking pot in his room - but he himself did not smoke and he did quickly put an end to it. He should also note his clean record to date, express regret for the incident (maybe even mention he has spoken to the chaplain), and that he has learned an important lesson.
He should consider preparing a list of the discussion items (can just be bullet points) heâd like to bring up (if there is an opportunity) so he wonât forget something if he is nervous â even if he doesnât end up using the list, itâs a good exercise.
I am hopeful thing will work out. Please let us know.
7 Likes
However, it looks like he is not technically guilty of the allegations listed in post #53. If he were guilty of something, it would be in not preventing a visitor from violating the rules on the subject.
This is what he might be guilty of âDrugs - Producing similar odor anything producing similar odor to illegal drugs or controlled substances is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, odors that smell like marijuana.â According to this, having an air freshener with a marijuana smell would be a violation. School probably added this to avoid arguments about what the actual smell is. And the RA stating he smelled it is probably enough evidence.
(FWIW I think itâs a crazy over the top provision on the schoolâs part)
Except that if it was a guest that caused the smell, then the student would not be in violation of the rule, unless there was a rule specifying that the student would be guilty if a guest violated the rule.
1 Like
Ugh. I hope it works out as well. The conduct hearing is scheduled for later this week.
I just got off a phone call with DS. He told me that a competitive post-grad grant that his school sponsors that he very much wants requires a clean disciplinary record. DS just told me that he very much does not want to plea guilty because he doesnât want this going on his conduct record, and he otherwise has strong institutional support for this competitive post-grad grant.
Ugh.