>>No, absolutely not. But I do hope that all of the kids involved (those who were charged and those who were just there) will learn a lesson about the consequences of the choices you make.
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>>We've worked hard to teach our kids to make good choices. I'd like to think that if either of my boys had walked into that party, he would have walked right out.
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>>Tamar
>
>Here's an analogy.......A young man is in a hotel waiting for the elevator. It arrives and the only occupant is female. He gets on and when they arrive at the lobby she is screaming that he fondled her and tried to stop the elevator and rape her.
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>Should he have anticipated the consequences of this action???? Should the Duke athelets have been able to anticipate a fabricated rape accusation as a reasonable consequence of attending this party????

You always have to balance risks. The risk of being falsely accused of rape by riding in an elevator with a woman are extremely low (at least in this country). The risk of something bad happening at a party with lots of alcohol and hired strippers and who knows what else (I certainly wouldn't be surprised to hear there were drugs in use at that party, as well) are high enough to make it worth avoiding.

I read regularly about college students getting seriously ill or dying as a result of excessive drinking.

>Had they been caught by their coach and suspended for breaking training regulations that would have taught the consequences lesson. Had a neighbor complained and the police busted them for underage drinking that would taught them about consequences.

Agreed. And I agree that the consequences for the three who were charged were _way_ out of proportion.


>Had one of your kids walked out of the party it would have been because you taught him that kind of party is morally wrong. As was said elsewhere by others, I disagree with that but certainly respect the opinion. Had he left because he thought a rape charge was a reasonable possibility then he should probably become a complete hermit because there is a possibility (however remote) of something similiar whenever there is human interaction. Any date might lead to a date rape charge. Does that mean he should never date?????

If one my kids had been there and walked out, it would have been because it wasn't his kind of place. My sons don't view drinking for the sake of getting drunk as entertaining.

Tamar