Alcohol Policy Praised and Protested

In the Sept. 20 article, “Judge Upholds Newport-Mesa Alcohol Policy,” it was stated that Superior Court Judge Ronald C. Kline upheld the policy of transferring students to another campus for 90 days if they were found guilty of breaking the “zero tolerance” policy now in place.

The young woman involved was well aware of the district rules concerning alcohol but, nevertheless, chose to break them. It seems no one in today’s society will take the responsibility for his actions. Don’t put the blame on the zero tolerance policy. The rules should be enforced. If you don’t agree with the policy, you might endeavor to change it, but don’t begin to make exceptions.

If this punishment is imposed, it will send a clear message to this young woman and to her peers that rules (and laws) are made to be obeyed. It could prove to be a valuable lifetime lesson. It is unfortunate that this incident has impacted her athletic endeavors. But that is the result of her decisions and her actions. I commend Judge Kline for his wise decision.

HAZEL H. SCHWAB

San Juan Capistrano

* Re “Judge Upholds Newport-Mesa Alcohol Policy,” Sept. 20:

This is the most ridiculous degree of punishment I have ever seen, relative to the infraction.

Jennifer McCartin had been transferred to a different school for three months merely because she consumed some alcohol before a school dance, which is very common among high school students.

She was not observed being hostile, belligerent or hurting anyone. She was there for the same reason I’m sure most people go to a dance: to have a good time and not to hurt anyone.

Unluckily, she was turned in by some “rat” photographer for weaving and bumping into some people. Now I don’t think any reasonable person would agree that consuming some alcohol before a dance and not hurting anyone merits being transferred to a different school for three months.

Perhaps she will lose her potential for a scholarship, all because she had a little to drink before a dance. They should have exercised the principle of the crime fitting the punishment but instead exercised absurdity.

Instead of giving her a reasonable degree of punishment, they opted to lessen the quality of her last year in high school, the one that is supposed to be the most fun of them all. Had she been the combatant in a fight, she would have probably received a lesser punishment.

Maybe those people who are “tough on underage drinking” will someday realize that they have never stopped anyone from drinking, nor decreased the frequency of drinking and never will.

This is just another example of how America looks at its youth as a problem and not its future to be invested in and respected.

BRIAN GREVER

La Palma