HP Girl Drinks to Point of Hospitalization
Channel 8’s 6 p.m. newscast included a report on a Highland Park girl being hospitalized due to alcohol poisoning. Here’s the Dallas Police Department report on the incident, which has few details. According to Rebecca Lopez’s televised report, which does not yet seem to be online, the incident happened at the Palladium Ballroom, a concert venue just south of downtown. Lopez also reported that three young men have been arrested, but I didn’t catch their names and can’t find any arrest reports online. Developing.
UPDATE: The names of the arrested teens have been reported by Channel 8, Channel 5, and The Dallas Morning News: Joshua Francis, Jacob Meredith, and Kevin O’Boyle. Their fake IDs were reportedly so sophisticated that the Secret Service and FBI are looking into them. I’ll try to confirm those agencies’ involvement first thing Monday morning.
Those three boys involved, and the girl(when she comes out of her coma) are screwed. Secret Service is now investigating given the high quality of the fake IDs used. Hope mommy and daddy know good defense attorneys.
Tragic.
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-beat/15-Year-Old-in-ICU-After-Drinking-at-Club-Cops-94635444.html
I know who and will not post the name here but it’s a freshman girl.
SO sad and wake up call for ALL parents. It is a tough time to be a teenager AND a parent. Let’s just hope and pray that she is out of the coma and going to be ok.
Channel 8 didn’t have any problem televising the mug shots of the 3 boys involved along with their names.
Any update on the girl’s condition? Thoughts and prayers to all 4 families.
DMN says she is on ventilator as an assist and will be OK. Blood alcohol level……0.40.
The boys are 17,18 & 19 -of age. The girl is 15, minor. I’ve been told who she is and think her and her familys privacy should be respected. It’s an example to all of them that turning 17 is legally a BIG deal. My God I hope the whole thing makes all of the teenagers think.
The 18 and 19-year olds aren’t technically “boys”, and the 17 year old is sure to be charged as an adult, so it’s not a big deal that Channel 8 named them. (Not a big deal in the sense that the media will name anyone who has been charged with a crime, even though they are presumed innocent until proven guilty – a practice I don’t like at all).
Let’s hope the girl makes a full and speedy recovery, and that everyone involved, along with their families and friends, learns something from this.
The DMN says she is expected to survive, but was put on a ventilator to assist her breathing. So frightening.
What an awful story. Aside from all the obvious bad decisions these kids made, I’m curious as to why a 15-year-old freshman girl was partying with senior boys, one of whom was 19?? The difference in maturity (both physical and emotional) between 15 and 18/19 years old is huge; how on earth could the girl’s parents have been so clueless that she was out with older boys AND in a club? I really hope she pulls through with no permanent damage and that all of them face huge repercussions at home. The thought that a young kid almost died in this incident is just horrifying.
Lesson to be learned – mom and dad, stop you’re own partying and raise your kids. This happened to a group known for partying but her parents are also known for that. Why on earth would a mother allow this young girl to be with 3 senior boys. were they on a triple date? Were there two other girls there? Please don’t let this happen again. Be a parent.
Huge repercussions at home? No, this time little parkies will face the court system and not be able to hide behind mommy and daddy. Sure hope the young lady is ok. She is suffering enough punishment. The boys? How about some lengthy probation and community service in some underprivileged areas. Learn that the rules apply to everyone even if you live in the bubble.
Its a tough lesson to learn and move on for a girl in HP. Everyone knows who she is, the whole high school is talking about this incident – actually all the high schools in North Dallas, and she will be forever labeled with a questionable reputation and that is sad because she is a cute, smart girl. It just doesn’t affect boys or their reputation the same way. Someone supplied her with a lot of liquor and the news reports said she wasn’t wearing a wristband that would allow the club to serve her?? So it would appear that she didn’t have a fake id like the others. They will all have a lot of ‘splainin to do! Sad, very very sad!
While the whole situation was obviously easily avoidable and huge mistakes were made…this could have happened to anyone. The mother has learned a big enough lesson so there’s no need to go off slandering thier whole family in a time like this. And as for the boys-they actually really care about her and respect her and had they seen any of this coming, they would have stopped it for her sake alone. It’s very easy to anonymously post on a website your opinions on the reputation of those in your community but have some respect…this is a hard time for all of the parties involved
Praying for a full and swift recovery.
Probation and community service? The Secret Service and DPS are investigating the IDs. Someone, if not all three, are going to be charged with some form of child endangerment. Unless these man/boys can learn to sing like Julie Andrews used to be able to sing there may be some jail time here. This is another one of situations were lots of kids in the area are cutting up IDs today, and some students on the “hilltop” are dumping laminaters, photo equipment and computers into White Rock Lake.
My neighbors across the street have a senior at HPHS. They say that the creator of the fake ids and all those who have purchased one from him or her, will not be able to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas next weekend. Also it is known that at least one of these boys has had at least one strike against him. The rule is with 2 strikes you’re out.
My neighbor’s senior girl said that these boys were part of the cool popular crowd.
No one is slandering the family. Though everyone knows who it is, no one as mentioned names, QQ. I’m sure everyone hopes that this is a giant wakeup call for all parents, those involved in this or not. Kids here are drinking, smoking pot, doing drugs and basically, being teenagers experimenting in risky behavior. This situation was bound to happen to someone. Sorry it happened to anyone.
Her blood alcohol level was .40 and the legal limit for DUI is .08. Huge difference! Someone must have been encouraging her to drink since she couldn’t order the drinks herself. The people responsible should be charged with endangering her life.
If schools round up all the fake ID’s and those who have ever used one, it would significantly reduce the number walking across the stage for graduation….at any HS in the US, not just HP! Also, these 4 kids were not the only ones at the club (it wasn’t a 3 senior boys and one freshman girl thing), there were others, including other freshman girls, and others with fake id’s and others drinking. They just got lucky and weren’t caught. There were kids there that weren’t drinking too. Guess time will tell who self reports, who gets busted and who walks away thinking they got away with it. Even “the girl” is not exempt from having sanctions on participating in extracurricular activities at HP due to drinking. I just hope the parents of the other kids that were there support them owning up to what they have done vs lawyering up.
@Gadfly.
“2 strikes you’re out” of what, school? No diploma?
The venue is popular for concerts. As I understand it, there were a lot of HP kids in attendance at the concert. One of the girl’s friends found her passed out in the bathroom and went to one of the boys for help. He called the police who, after seeing that the girl was taken to the hospital, checked id’s and made arrests. I don’t think it has been determined who supplied the girl with alcohol.
It’s my understanding this little 15 year old wasn’t traveling alone. There were other young 15 and 16 year olds there as well. One of this little victim’s friend who was “suppose to be watching her” is on our Varsity Soccer team. Where was she when this was happening? I hear she was having her own party. Too bad the cops didn’t shake down the whole place. There would be many more HP kids in trouble.
I think the parents of HP kids had better get ready for the inquisition that will surely come Monday morning. If you know where your kid was on Friday night be happy. If your kid was out and about you better make sure where they were. If they were at the Palladium you better know exactly what they were doing there, how they got in and if they were drinking.
The four students who were caught have probably given the police names of others involved. The police, made up of a variety of local, state and maybe federal officials, will be interviewing kids on campus. They will be looking for more names. Seniors will be most vulnerable. Anyone involved in an extracurricular activity the next most vulnerable. I bet they have 90% of the names of the kids that were there by the end of the day.
I have already informed my middle schoolers about this. I will continue to inform them as the full impact to the community is felt. Some people, especially those that don’t live here, think only in terms of the socioeconomic aspects of our lives. The fact is this is a small community. When things like this happen it affects all of us to a degree. I want my kids to know that if they choose to engage in inappropriate or illegal behavior it will not only affect our family, but also our community.
I am glad the young lady is going to be okay, healthwise, and pray for her recovery. I am saddened by the situation that the young men are in. It will alter the course of their lives over the next few months, if not years. I will pray for the recovery of their destinies. And I will pray for the HPHS and Middle school parents. That we not abandon our jobs as parents as our kids get older and that we will be on guard , always, to the needs of our kids.
Bad parenting all the way around. In this case, it could have killed a little girl.
Shame on anyone who “labels” this girl — as adults, we cannot except a 15 year old to use the same judgement as an adult. If you know her, or think you do, show some compassion as a fellow human being and welcome her recovery as you would want someone to welcome you back.
I don’t know, DemBones. That is just what this high school senior’s mom told me. I didn’t think to ask, because I had been outside talking with her for 30 minutes and was miserable. The mosquitos were brunching on me in a nasty way and my brains had melted and I hadn’t had my iced coffee yet. Our conversation was mostly about landscaping woes and not about this incident. Next time I see her, I’ll ask what 2 strikes mean.
Who is labeling? Of course this is the talk of the town this weekend and I’ve talked to a lot of people and not a single soul has said anything negative about anyone involved other than it’s a tragedy and they wish the best for all parties involved. You’ve heard the saying, “There but for the grace of God go I” – well I bet there’s a lot of people thinking that right now. Could have been almost anyone – whether a child today or a parent 30 years ago.
Oh, I just read a comment saying that she will be labeled . . I get it now. Well, no one should dare condemn her or anyone. She’s a child, and even the boys who are legally adults are also children. Good lessons are learned the hard way – let’s hope and pray that everyone can get something positive from this.
HP has a general code of conduct (like most schools) and a stricter code of conduct for extracurricular activities that has specific penalties for offenses. The above-mentioned “2 stikes” sounds like the extracurricular code since its a 1,2 3 category for number of offenses. The first time you are penalized 40% (not sure about precise %) so you miss 40% of the season. If the season is over, its takes effect during the next season. There is a reduction for first time offenders if you self report. Second offense you miss 60% and the third time, you miss an entire year. The regular code of conduct is more subjective with penalties – at the princial/asst principle discretion based on a list of criteria. All handbooks are easily found on hpisd.org if anyone wants to read through them. All the kids and I think parents too have to sign them each year acknowledging they are understood.
Good to see some at HPHS are still keepin’ it classy! While I hope all concerned in this incident eventually learn some tremendously needed lessons from their/these folks hugely bad choices, this stuff happens when lax parenting (oversight) meets collective brain that doesn’t have enough correct reasoning power. HP is just the same it was in 1978, only more so.
It is absolutely absurd that 15 & 16 year olds were even at the Palladium in the first place. HELLO, does anyone remember “It’s ten o’clock, do you know where your children are?”. My 15 year old recently asked to attend a concert there in June. A quick perusal of their website made it instantly apparent that this was not an appropriate venue for kids that age, even with adult supervision. It’s a bar that sells SRO tickets to concerts! While the place does allow minors, (a policy that I hope will be up for review following this incident)just because they do doesn’t mean you should let your kids go, duh. Just as parents of middle schoolers dump their kids at NorthPark unsupervised, just because you can, should you? I look around and find it increasingly difficult to find people who are actually taking the time to parent their kids. FYI, it’s a 24/7 job that can interfere with tennis and pillates. I know, I’ve sat through more teen flicks than I care to remember, just because I didn’t want my kids and their friends unsupervised. I really have to stop and wonder if these moronic parents were ever teenagers themselves. Do they forget how resourceful teenagers can be? Lord knows, I was, but there was a constant fear that someone was actually watching and attempting to stay one step ahead. I can’t fault the boys sporting the latest fake ID’s on the market, but I can, the parents, who don’t bother to spot check their wallets and belongings on a regular basis. A lot of these situations can be nipped in the bud just by making it more difficult for them to get away with things, but again, it takes TIME out of your busy day. Our children are given far too many freedoms at early ages and it is obvious that they are ill equipped to deal with them appropriately. Is “NO” no longer an alternative for parents? Or is “Yes” just easier when you’ve got a job, ball to plan, a dinner party to attend or a personal trainer to meet? Teenagers should be expected to push their boundaries and experiment, but they should also have formidable opponents in the form of parents who are willing to guide and direct them through this difficult time of their lives. I really do feel for these kids who have such lame competitors in the game that is parenting.
They were drinking at a concert and they had fake ID’s. It is a big deal, but the truth is everybody (pretty much) has been drinking underage or has had a fake ID. It is illegal, but like a few of you said, it could have been anyone. I feel bad for these guys because they were just partying at a concert and now they are going to be blamed for what happened to the freshman girl (so sad, but not their fault unless they really were encouraging her to drink…I doubt they were even together though. there were so many people at that concert!) and the consequences for them are going to be major. they are legal adults, so they are going to get in huge trouble w/ the law (especially since the secret service is involved) they’re going to be in huge trouble at home, they won’t get to walk at graduation (they were so close!!!) they probably won’t get to go to the same colleges they were planning to, and the list goes on and on. this sucks that they had to learn the hard way. I wish they could be let off easy just this once so they know what can happen, but they still get a second chance at their lives. I guess thats not how the real world works though. I hope the girl recovers and learns from this and I hope the boys learn from this too and hopefully they’ll still have opportunities to get their lives back to where they’d planned. this is awful. they’re young! Its so sad that these mistakes will have such long term consequences. I hope everything works out okay for everyone involved in the end. I don’t judge anyone in this situation. just normal kids having a good time, but now they know what can happen. I think thats terrible they out they’re mugshots AND names on tv. thats just adding insult to injury! I don’t know the whole story, but to me it sounds like they were just the unlucky few who got caught and I feel terrible for them. Its a very big lesson learned though.
What happened to a certain football player last year that was arrested for DWI? I know he graduated. So do the code of Conduct rules only apply to Non athletes? Wouldn’t surprise me.
and to all of you insulting the parents: get real. it could just as likely be your kids. the parents in this situation are already so sad, worried, etc etc so you should shut up and leave them alone. it isn’t bad parenting here. it is young people making bad decisions. no matter how good your parents are or how good you are, you are going to make mistakes and sometimes they blow up in your face, but its part of life. it just happens that they got caught and they’re going to get lots of consequences for it this time. don’t go pointing fingers. its just a bad situation that happened, but at the end of the day, its not really anyones fault. I’m sure these boys will change their ways though. you have to grow up sometime. its sad though, right before college. but maybe this will help them make better decisions and keep them out of danger in the future.
@Parenting101
well I hope that when/if your kids get into trouble, people are nicer to you than you are being towards these parents. my parents never checked my wallet! thats ridiculous to even suggest those parents should have done that. thats the kind of thing super-paranoid parents do, but I’ve never heard of ‘wallet checking’ parents. thats crazy. you don’t know these parents so for you to be accusing them of putting pilates and other things over their kids is ridiculous and rude. they are hurting enough right now. you should probably stop acting so high and mighty because all kids do experiment, and parents can’t be there all the time. you think you know everything about parenting?? ha I think you’re full of it, and I think you need to have some compassion. you may think you know everything (you don’t.) but someday you are going to have to stop tagging along everywhere with your kids (i went to northpark alone in middle school and my parents are really strict…big deal) and they are going to have to make their own decisions. sometimes they’ll mess up, and hopefully most of the time they won’t. but its important to make mistakes because you learn. you can’t supervise your kids 24/7 even if you think you can.your comment is just rude and I have no idea why you think you’re so perfect.
Clearly, this is an emotionally charged subject. Lively discussion is welcome, personal attacks are not. Let’s keep the conversation relevant.
@parenting 101: Great post. Responsible parenting is never easy.
@quiltedhp: I’m just assuming here, but I’m guessing you are still a young person yourself, and have never encountered the never-ending challenges of parenting. I check my daughters purse, notebook, email, cell phone and Facebook, and I’m not ashamed to say so. Sometimes she knows I do it, other times she doesn’t. In this day and age, we can’t be too careful. There is so much pressure (and I believe more so here in HPISD) for kids to follow the leader and fit in with the crowd. For those who say we have to trust our kids and respect their privacy… in our home, the philosophy is the kids have no privacy. I’m not blind to the fact that my daughter has multiple opportunities (at friends homes, library, etc.) to break our rules, but I’m fairly certain that she knows and respects the fact that serious consequences would seriously hinder her social life if caught.
As to the 15 year old girl: I don’t know her parents, so would certainly never jump to an assumption as to their parenting skills. We as parents all fall short from time to time… and our kids ARE very resourceful. I just hope and pray that this is a conversation provoking situation, and that maybe from this tragedy some lines of communication can be opened, and as a community we won’t be talking about something like this ever again.
Any updates on the girl? Is she off the ventilator yet?
There are so many wrongs in this situation but I think one has to give the kids some credit. They responded to a medical emergency appropriately – the girl ran for help from
the older boy and the boy called 911 or the police or whatever. The easy way out would have been to feign ignorance, divorce oneself from the problem and blend right back into the crowd.
The police need to charge the parents. They also need to file federal criminal charges against the boys. The venue needs to file charges against the boys for fraud, and possibly sue them in civil court.
This is a case of bad parenting, bad judgment, and bad kids. If law enforcement will sort our who did what to whom this time, and not sweep it under the rug, changes will be made. Otherwise, we’ll read about this again in a few weeks, and perhaps a child will die or be permanently robbed of knowledge of her future.
Some intelligent people have posted here. One wonders whether they couldn’t insist of the right thing being done this time.
It sounds to me like the boys tried to help her and then they got arrested for fake ID’s and are now facing more serious investigations? Hmm. It sounds like there were many more kids there than that doing the exact same thing, and while what they were doing was wrong, it is also a shame that the kids who tried to help are the only ones getting in trouble, if that is indeed the situation. It may not be.
In the end, nothing will happen folks. If you recall, the former QB was caught red handed with a case of beer on Wyliff, beer in hand while driving and given a DUI. HPISD just slapped him on the wrist, barely. If I recall, one of the accused is a graduating defensive back from the team. Nothing will happen to him either. Nothing. My wife, who I guess is inside the mommy loop of chain emails(even though our kids are toddlers), showed me Facebook pics of these HP kids boozing it up in Cancun. Boozing it up in backyards. Boozing it up in local bars. Really? Are kids really this brazen with their drinking these days? Every picture has a kid with a red dixie cup in their hand. How can parents be that blind? I’m no saint. My wife thinks that Frank the Tank in “Old School” is based on my life. But jeez, parents! Man!
Does anyone have any updates on the girl??? Is she off the ventilator?
At this point everyone knows who the girl is and that she is going to be fine physically. Hopefully, she will be able to deal with the emotional aspect of being kicked off the XC team and the talk of the school for awhile. There is always the private school alternative if things get too bad.
The boys won’t go to jail, but will be dipping into their trust funds for defense attorney fees.
All of these hp moms need to shut up okay people she drank alcohol its not a big deal its over with now and i know the whole story so y’all misconstrued parents need to be quite y’all don’t know the whole story so stop acting like it the news isn’t always true you know so please just be quite this has nothing to do with you so just go on and like your perfect little lives and go waste your time gossiping about someone else this story is over with no need for more comments and you will think your were an idiot for saying some of things things your saying know when you know the whole truth.
If a bunch of HPHS students were there drinking and some had fake IDs, why were only those three boys arrested?
Sounds like they were the few who did the right thing and put the life of the freshman girl before their own need to clear out before the cops arrived. Perhaps their parents raised them to do the right thing, even if it meant being caught for several wrong (and illegal) things.
I am anxious to learn more facts and to hear that the girl has gone home from the hospital fully recovered.
To the students reading these comments, don’t believe that EVERYONE gets fake IDs or drinks before they are 21. Some do (like the Bush twins), but many more don’t. Please don’t think everybody’s doing it.
it has nothing to do with the parents… i would have loved to go to a concert with my buddies for fun
Hey, NOT Named…”she drank alcohol, it’s not a big deal, it’s over now”? Really? Some day you will probably be privileged enought to be a parent (unless you screw up by drinking too much and wind up dead from alcohol poisoning or a DUI car crash). If you are blessed to have a family, I truly hope you never receive the late-night phone call that every parent dreads; the one where the local emergency room is telling you to come quickly because your child is in intensive care. Ending up in the ER on a ventilator with alcohol poisoning at age 15 is a brush with death; a bit more than “no big deal”, don’t you think?
@justmyopinion:
well said. I’m not that young but not a parent either, I was just annoyed at the assumption the parents were at fault. thanks for your comment!
@ NOT named
I’m guessing you’re in high school? can you tell us exactly what happened so its clear? once the facts are straight, everyone will leave it alone but its all a mystery now. and its quiet, not quite. Is the girl okay? were those boys the ones who called the police? etc etc…we just want to know what happened. thanks!
@DemBones
thanks! it does seem like everyone has fake IDs and drinks but it isn’t I guess.
@ukwn
I agree! they went to a concert. I don’t see why what they did there and the trouble they got in is their parents fault. they probably feel guilty anyway, so i think we should leave them alone. lord knows they’ll be more strict now.
@MK,
thats what goes through my mind whenever I have to make a decision. i wouldn’t want my parents ever having to worry like that. well actually, first I think of how i’d get caught and get in trouble, but that too! I feel awful for the parents (and kids!)
PS NOT Named — the word is “QUIET”, not “quite.”
And to quote Joe Biden, this IS a big f–king deal! This girl is lucky to be alive after having a blood alcohol level of .40!
I’m with Parenting 101 – it is a 24/7 job to raise a child – and the hardest but most important job one can undertake!
OMG to the one that said this is no big deal. Most kids know this was not the first time this girl has been out drinking alcohol. Parents wake up!! This girl needs help and there are probably others out there. My brother started drinking his freshman year. By sophomore year, I thought he had a problem. My parents thought he was just being a boy and didn’t see it. He died of liver failure from alcohol before he was able to have a life. 15 year olds drink to get drunk for a reason – parents need to figure out what it is and get them help.
This is a very sad story. If this young lady wants to drink and party like she did and act much older then she is then she needs to be held responsible for her action. I hope she has a quick recovery. All four involved took advantage of the club and put everyone in that building in danger not just themselves. All four of these young people knew what they were doing, they planned it and carried it out. Saying “shes only 15, its not her fault she didnt know” is a excuse that carries no weight. Very disappointing that these CHILDREN havent been tought right from wrong!
@NOT Named – I’m going out on a limb here and guessing that you’re a freshman boy who knows the people involved. You’re immaturity and, frankly, stupidity, are well demonstrated in your comment. An underage girl drinking herself into a coma with a BAL of .40 IS a big deal. She could have easily died or suffered permanent brain damage. She and her friends broke the law and endangered others. We are not moms gossiping, this is a local and even national news story that involves our kids’ school and students and parents many of us know and are friends with. Kids learn from their parents, that’s a fact. Maybe that’s where you learned to be so rude and tell hp moms to “shut up.” Does your father talk to you or your mother that way? When kids see their parents drinking heavily, going out frequently and when parents allow their kids to go to non adult supervised events and parties, kids are going to believe that it’s OK to do what they see their parents do. And at some age, that’s not a big deal. But only when kids have matured to the point where they know when to stop drinking, to not drive drunk and to not break the law. Good luck on your finals, buddy. I think you’re going to need it.
I think everyone is worried about the the health of the girl and would appreciate PCP giving us an update on her wellbeing. Secondly, I have concerns along with others, that there may have been many other students involved in the underage drinking at the same time. same place (and I have heard, some others were ‘ziptied’). If so, why would there seemingly be different treatment of the different kids if they were all involved in the same illegal actions? Thirdly, I commend all the students who made their own choices not to have illegal documents/be in a tricky place/follow an uncool but wiser path. However, may all the students have more information now about some of the very serious dangers presented by holding an illegal id and binge drinking. I am so sorry that it took risking a girl’s life to produce that.
Only one family needs thoughts and prayers right now and that is the family of the young girl who almost lost her life. Not to be cruel, but the boys knew exactly what they were getting into when they got fake IDs, and honestly they will deserve everything that is hopefully coming their way. I hope the girl gets better, and then I hope she is shown the error of her ways too. It is not too late for her.
For those of us struggling to raise high school kids in this community, the news of this story was disturbing but not really surprising. I am glad to read a lot of the comments from parents who stay after their kids to do the right things, and monitor their kids’ activities like Homeland Security monitors a terrorist suspect. The kids will try everything, and will continue to push the envelope. Our task is to stay vigilant, keep our kids out of trouble, and do whatever is necessary to make that happen — even if it means embarassing them or not letting them do something that “everyone else is”.
The only thing that scares me as much as what the kids are getting involved in these days (and believe me, it is eye-opening) is how many parents there are still that have no clue about it. Get your heads out of the sand, people, and stick your nose in your kids’ lives.
I pray this will serve as a wake-up call for all of the high school kids in HP and throughout Dallas.
This is second hand info but I understand from the parent of one of her friends, that the girl is out of ICU but still in the hospital.
It is my understanding that one of the senior boys arrested is well known at HP for getting high quality fake IDs through his “connection” in Austin and routinely sells them at school for a hefty price. Even has a professional photographer take the pictures to send to Austin for the fakes. I think he may already be a better businessman than most of us writing in here. Sounds like his profits are now going to a high dollar criminal attorney.
I think there were lots of HP kids who got arrested and/or fake ID’s taken away. I believe they were underage and just lucky enough not to get named in the paper. If I am wrong, please correct me … but these were not the only four who got in trouble. Also, I sometimes feel like all the other moms think I am the “crazy” mom who is always “up in arms” and who has to know about where my child is, who they are with, when they are coming home, are they being supervised at someone’s home when boys/girls are together, etc. I hate the feeling but it beats the alternative! Any yes, sorry to say, when I am supervising (sometimes kids whose parents have no idea who I am) and its time to bring kids home(middle schoolers) the parents are no where to be found and are usually at a social event. I have called parents at 11 pm and beyond wondering what to do with their children … they just expect them to end up “at someones house” and it will all be fine. And, Im not even talking about high schoolers!
Yes this is all terrible with respect to the health of the girl. No one deserves the pain of having to deal with one’s own child at death’s doors.
What is amazing is the attention this is getting. This all happens everywhere across America. Would you all be so caring and involved if it had happened at a club in South Oak Cliff or it’s equivalent? Of course not. It’s a socio-economic problem that is not supposed to happen to “People like us”.
You are just superior at hiding dirty laundry than the less fortunate. The specifics are everywhere. The only sadness is towards the girl. Hopefully she will pull through. The rest involved or less involved are just typical teenage idiots. Parents and clubs are all responsible for turnijng their heads to under age drinking, under or over-privledged.
Regardless of whose right or wrong; this is common. Many underage girls will drink and drink too much. High schoolers, believe it or not; have fake ID’s. If it didn’t happen to Highland Park kids this never would have made the news.
Here’s a scary thought: Had they not been arrested, they would have driven home. Imagine the tragedy that could have unfolded there.
My daughter told me the girl is back at school today.
The girl involved attended school today.
I doubt they were planning to drive home right?? they must have had a designated driver or some other plan. teenagers here do binge drink a lot but we’re not too bad w/ drinking and driving.
Matt is right on the senior boy who was well known at HP for his high quality fake id’s. I feel sorry for his sister who got married this weekend as he probably was the dark shadow hanging over the happy time for her. HP will give a slap on the wrist to the kids and hope that when school starts in the fall this all will be forgotten.
Heard that Thursday night the ID-guy from HPHS gave police names he’d sold to and that Friday those kids were called to the office during the school day and at least some were charged with having a fake ID. Have not heard of more than three arrests Thursday night, however.
Very good news that the freshman returned to school.
PCP, are you saving all the facts for this week’s edition?
yep she was at school today and I heard she was acting like normal, laughing and acting like nothing happened. i can’t believe like 4 days ago she almost died. i hope she learns from this but those that know her say she won’t. I hope they’re wrong though. and I heard that boy (we all know who he is…) had a pretty good business making fake IDs. Lots of seniors have them and since he turned in a list (supposedly) they are all scared right now. And there WERE more people there and there WERE more people that got in trouble. A varsity cheerleader was escorted out in handcuffs. And there were more too, but since these guys were [supposedly] with the girl that passed out, and they had such good fake IDs, they got in huge trouble. everyone that was there and got off easy is lucky. My sister who is at the high school told me everyone involved was at school today. brave, i would be so embarrassed but I guess its good to just get it over with. i just really want to know what really happened! I’m sick of speculating!!
any more updates???
1. Securing a fake ID is against the law, and actually hurts society by keeping the fake ID makers in business for criminal enterprises and/or illegals.
2. It was the intention of the fake IDs to defraud establishments that sell or serve alcohol, and are restricted by law from dealing with minors.
3. There was very possibly a conspiracy between the boys to get the girl drunk. That’s serious criminal stuff.
4. The parents DO have culpability. They should have known where their children were going and what they were doing.
5. The girl was a victim; partially at her own hands. But, she was also knowingly violating the law, and may have had her own fake ID. Her parents are also culpable.
6. Drug and alcohol abuse are a problem at Highland Park. Lawyers are the last people on the planet who can solve the problems.
6.
I don’t know her personally, but apparently she attended school today. I’m a grade above her, and everyone in my grade was talking about her. I can’t imagine her day at school went well, and although what she did was wrong and she’s lucky she isn’t worse off, I hope that most people left her alone about it in her classes.
@Amazed, we are indeed up in arms because it happened in our community. Not because we think we are better than anyone else, but because we live here – this is our communities internet board. We know these kids, our kids know these kids – I’m sure some of the parents of these kids is reading this right now. Information is power, and I’m sure a lot of teenage wallets were searched around here this weekend – that’s a good thing. The next group that wants to head to a concert at a bar will probably have more scrutiny from a lot of parents – another good thing. Good can come from this awful situation. That is why we talk.
shame on all of you. this is not the parents fault of the boys nor did the boys “shove” this alcohol down her throat. the real fault, i believe, lies within the fault of her parents. her parents actually let her go out with 3 senior boys to a concert on a school night before exams? that’s a little ridiculous. My heart goes out to her and her family in their time of need and many many prayers have been said for her. But blaming these boys for this incident is just plain naive. My daughter just graduated from highland park high school last year and explained to me what she did at that age and how freshman girls act. i do not hesitate to think that this girl did a lot of “pre gaming” and she herself had a fake ID so she probably took part in purchasing alcohol before the concert. This same type of incident has happened to at least 1 or 2 freshman years every year since my oldest graduated from high school in 2005. It’s plain and clear that girls as young as 14 and 15 do not know how to drink nor should they be drinking at all!
Well said momHP. In times of distress and crisis, people seem to blame everyone they can except for themselves of the ones they love. But the girl is the one who knowingly drank them knowing that alcohol is a poison to the body. She might have not known the real effects, but the middle school does a pretty diligent job of instilling what alcohol does through their D.A.R.E. program. Blaming these boys is just a typical “point the finger” ploy. And if they actually did force her to drink the alcohol then I take this back, however it doesn’t seem plausible coming from such esteemed young men. As far as the young boys are concerned, from what I hear from my daughter, a junior at Highland Park High School, that these boys attending prominent universities in Texas and are truly good kids. They’re all almost straight A students and a couple in the top 10% of their class. They’ve been led you be “stuck up, rich, spolied, drunken hooligans” but I know that this is not the case.
What happened to this young girl is an absolute tragedy and I pray for her FULL recovery. However, what we all need to take away from this is how to be a better parent, even if it means our kids “hate” us at times. I ask my soon to be teenagers, “where are you going, who are you going with” and I do not let anyone else take them but myself. Parents also need to explain to their older ones the consequences of all actions and how by an act of God this girl was saved. Others may not be.
Why are you guys calling her “a little girl”? She is a freshman in High School for christ sake. She made her own decision to drink into submission. Also on facebook all the people in the school are commenting. Get better soon and im praying for you and its not your fault get better!. This is bullshit. These kids commenting on her wall should not be saying that. They should be saying: next time dont drink 5 times the legal limit dumbshit! Thats my two cents… These boys should only be charged for false identification distributing and minor in consumption and minor in possesion. These guys were trying to help this “little girl” (as you idiots call her)and the security guards asked to see there id and the cops ran it and came up fake. These guys got screwed over for trying to fucking help someone.
I find the idea that the parents aren’t at fault is preposterous! A 15 year old kid shouldn’t be out at a concert – as simple as that. I believe it was momHP who had it right that parents aren’t stepping up to the plate and doing their job.
And the comments that “every kid drinks” and “every kid has a fake ID”, as if that’s okay. Well, NOT every kid goes out drinking, and a lot of kids don’t have fake IDs. Shameful.
Apparently the actions of the young lady match up with the (horribly written – are there no English teachers in HPISD?) comments by the kids on this blog that the whole event was no big deal.
What about all of them having fake IDs that cost a great deal of money and breaking several fraud and alcohol laws leads you to believe these boys are “good kids”?
Breaking the law is breaking the law.
———————–
HPHS Student: Your parents and teachers must be very proud of you for your eloquence and reasoning when it comes to presenting an argument. Best of luck in automotive trade school.
ok she did not go to the concert with the three senior guys she went with another freshman girl and the guys had nothing to do with it… the only reason it is being connected is because they all go to hp. and one of the guys that got arrested was also at school.
cdem-
so sorry for you. pitiful. your comments are laughable to anyone who knows better. your daughter is either so clueless or is part of the “cool junior group” trying to snow you. you just made a fool of yourself. check the facts. yours are all wrong.
Hey kids on this board: thanks for further deteriorating the good name of our town and school. While you were getting hammered, a Jesuit junior named Jordan was giving interviews to CNN with the poise and class of Byron Nelson.
It’s exhausting to read that there is even an argument as to wether the parents are to share the blame with these young adults…but not just in this situation. This is a nation wide epidemic. I, personally, can only speak from my experiences in the North Dallas private schools and HP schools that my children have attended. Children and young adults are expected to have poor judgement, that is why they are still considered MINORS and we, PARENTS. I do, wholeheartedly, feel kids should face all consequences of their bad judgement. But, sometimes, it makes you wonder when their parent(s) exhibit such bad judgement…and I mean, I see it all of the time. I use the word, exhibit, because I truly believe that these parents know better and I personally know more than a handful of these idiot parents, and they were raised better than that, but for many, it’s just so darn inconvenient to hassle with parenting your kids these days. I mean…It just sucks to have to leave MiCocina when you have had 3 Mambo Taxis and go pick up your kids because they are loitering around Inwood Village because they have just been kicked out of a movie. C’mon…this is such a joke. I like kids so I don’t mind being the house where the kids hang and the mom who is sober (I’m not saying all of the time) but sober when I am responsible for my kids and their friends and goes and picks them up all of the time, but my car only has so many seats…a little help would be nice. Can you tell I am fed up?
Bottom line, a 9th grader doesn’t need to be at a club on a Thursday night, or any other night with a bunch of friends, regardless of their ages. The older boys..congratulations…you (supposedly) got a 100lb freshman girl drunk…need I say more? Thank God she did not suffer any permanent damage from this incident.
I am guessing and only guessing the big freak out over the fake id’s is because someone was watching the situation and had perhaps seen them give her a drink. I know who the girl is, and no bartender, wrist band or not, would serve this young girl. And more so, since one of the boys arrested was rumored to be involved in distributing the fake ID’s, I would assume that the police had been tipped off..or that is a HUGE coincidence. What I am sure the boys DID NOT realize and I even didn’t initially realize is when you have a fake ID system that is this sophisticated then it’s source becomes of intrigue to the FBI and Homeland Security…if they can make such sophisticated fake IDs then they are surely making fake passports. I would bet my life that these boys NEVER in a million years thought of this, but a good lesson was learned….and like all good lessons learned…the hard way.
Now…one more rants before I am done, parents, please do not use this situation or these families or these kids, as a way to boast about how your kid never drinks or your kid would never have a fake ID. NEVER say NEVER..it will come back and bite you on the butt. Obviously this was the popular group and if you have an ax to grind, pass on this one…it make you look look bitter and jealous…I saw it with my own two eyes on Friday night…meow…the claws were out. And on the flip side, not “everbody” in high school does drink or have a fake ID and that’s not a good enough excuse for this one! And lastly, we all were teenagers…a lot of us drank and did a bunch of stupid things, and by the grace of God, most of us survived. The world is a different place now, the kids are the same but the people out there are scarier, the drugs are more dangerous and the parents are meaner and PLEASE don’t make me have to go into how gross it is what kids are exposed to thru internet, TV etc… Please help protect your children. You only get one kiss at the pig.
@N.F. First of all i dont appreciate the satire humor, and im trying to get a point across that these kids saved this girls life… and indeed they made a mistake, one that will haunt their resumes the rest of their lives. So pardon my french, because i am angered by this subject.
Glad to hear she is back at school an no ha done. My guess is she went by MiCocina and had some tortillas and queso to get over her hangover. That always works for me.
I wonder how long it will be before she has her next drink.
HPHS Student has a very valid point
@N.F. I dont really appreciate the sarcasm, and second of all im just trying to prove a point that if these boys didnt help this girl than she would have died. And pardon my french, i do apologize for the language, but this subject angers me.
@Sammy Your right… A 15 year old girl should not of been at a concert on a school night. And your also right about not everyone drinks. But from my HS experience thus far, i can say during sophmore year probably 80% of the grade of 500 or so drinks on the weekends. And about 10% have fake ids
HPHS Student. You are so right I never thought of it that way. Touche! N.F. Shame on you for the rude comments.
yall should probly stop saying bad things about this girl, she can see this. she is very sweet. i love her. and her friends are awesome. so screw all of you who were talking bad about her.
for pete’s sake, who can be surprised.
in the late 60s, a popular club at HP
was the “FMDC” or Friday Morning Drinking Club.
a pretty self explanatory organization.
another thing, in the case of a couple of the
students involved, the acorn doesn’t fall
very far from the tree.
These boys breaking the law doesn’t make them bad kids. Regardless of stupid mistakes, they are still “good kids”. Have you or your children NEVER broken the law N.F.? Please… whether our generation wants to believe it or not, times have changed. Lots of teens have fake IDs. Is it absolutely unacceptable? YES! But only these boys can’t be annihilated by all these comments when they’re not the only ones. My daughter, now graduated from TCU, said that when she was at Highland Park HS in ’05, the St. Mark’s kids were the ones selling and providing her friends the fake IDs. It’s not just Highland Park and its not just these few boys.
And if i’m not mistaken, why does everyone keep forgetting that she, herself, had a FAKE ID as well???? Even if she didn’t use it at the bar, she had one in her possession.
I feel tremedous sympathy for all those involved in this incident and would not wish it on anyone. However, I must say that the “little girl” here is not so little/innocent. She is a 15 year old teen who has grown up much too fast and without enough supervision. According to my high schooler, when she returned to school today to the outpouring of concern from her classmates, she shrugged them off with an “I’m fine – it’s really no big deal” response. Perhaps she was just embarrassed and didn’t know how to react. But I have to ask: was there really a lesson learned in all of this?
@momHP, cdem, HPHS student, Sammy;
Your points about the girl are well taken. She is culpable in that she drank knowing it was illegal. If she had a fake ID, that is illegal as well. We don’t know the exact nature of the relationship between the men and the girl. I’ve heard conflicting stories so I’m not going to judge that aspect of their behavior. But the men are culpable as well, knowing that a fake ID was illegal. If they were drinking then they know that drinking is illegal.
Again, not knowing the relationship between the girl and the senior men, I don’t want to judge. But, let me be clear on one point. This is to next years fresh-men and sophomore men at HP. In a few years my daughter will be coming to your school. I am doing my best to raise her with a good heart and a loving nature. I am trying to teach her some “facts of life”. I would rather not start out with the premise that all boys are scum, especially in this community where I admire so many of our young men for their outstanding achievements. Because of this she might be a little naive. Beware. I am not. I will consider the type of attention that this girl was receiving by Seniors to be PREDATORY in nature. I will hold the seniors parents responsible for that behavior, as I hold myself responsible for my son’s behavior.
This is part of what I am telling my son: every class has their “boy toys” (not saying that this 15 year old was one). Part of that is the girls fault. For what every reason she craves the attention of boys or men. But fault lies with the boys as well. Do the right thing. Don’t encourage that behavior. If you are part of creating that boy toy then every sexual encounter she has (or you have for that matter) outside of being married will be laid at your feet at some point in time. Do the right thing.
To James Tucker & Things Are Not What They Seem,
Your comments are really appreciated and eloquently stated. I agree 100% with both of you; thanks for your rational and useful advice.
Mr T. Surely you are not naive enough to think a theat on a blog is going to offer any protection for your daughter?
If you are concerned that your daughter might fall in with the “wrong” crowd when she gets to HPHS, teach her right from wrong now. A freshman girl is old enough to know when she is doing something wrong or running with a group that will lead to trouble. Don’t think you can control how the boys will react to her, because you can’t.
@HP Guru,
Thanks for you advice about teaching my daughter right from wrong now to improve her decision-making capacity in the future. I think I made it clear that I am doing that. While I cannot “control how boys will react to her” I can control how she is going to be treated by those boys. It also means that I have at least one boy whom I can control in regards to his reaction and treatment of a girl or girls. I am calling on other parents in our community to do the same thing with their boys.
I have no knowledge that the men in question on this post had anything other then friendly intentions or even heroic intentions in regards to the 15 year old so I don’t particularly want to make this about them. this is about the future. It’s about moving forward as a community. The police and school will handle the immediate disciplinary problems of this situation. It is we, as parents, who will have to take this situation and apply it to our own child-rearing behavior.
And HP Guru, A threat on a blog would never deter a predator. Any threats that I make to a would-be predator would be made in person.
@UNKNOWN,
You shouldn’t condemn the adults for commenting on the recklessness of this situation.Frankly, we are older and wiser and have experienced many things– good and bad. Everyone learns from their mistakes and those of others.
I will criticize the girl’s so-called “friends that love her” that allowed her to drink about NINE drinks that evening. I looked up a Blood Alcohol Calculator to find a 100-120 lb. female would have to consume 9-11 drinks/shots to reach a bac of 4.0. That is a ridiculous amount of alcohol. So sad and criminal that no one stopped her before she reached her coma. Buzz kill.
The boy who is responsible for selling the fake Id’s very well may not be attending the university of his choice in the fall so maybe he ought to work for the FBI as did the guy from “Catch Me if You Can”.
@ HPHS Student
I agree with you that it was commendable that someone called for emergency help instead of running from any responsibility.
As for some other people’s points that “this kind of thing happens all the time, it’s been going on for years, so it’s okay”, I would have to vehemently disagree. When I was a lowly worker at the country club, I learned very quickly that a certain group of “elite” people thought they were above the law and the rules, and very clearly transferred that same attitude and belief to their children.
It disturbs me that so many of our neighbors think all this is no big deal, and it’s just a kids will be kids type situation. You know what? There are a lot of kids out there who don’t have fake IDs and don’t go partying to bars and clubs on a weeknight or even weekend. And the problem starts right at home with the parents: quit making up excuses, step up to the plate and be a parent!
I learned about 10 years after college that there are plenty of people who DID NOT drink to get drunk (not saying they never drank), take drugs, or have sex in high school and even into college. It seems like “everyone does it,” but that’s simply not true.
I learned that the kids who were square, not so popular, and focused on future goals, often turned into the most successful and well-adjusted adults. Many are now leaders in business, medicine, science, and government. (I know that there are lots and lots of exceptions; everyone knows people who partied and are now millionaires or past presidents.)
I seriously doubt that 400 out of 500 kids (80%) are drinking every weekend with fake IDs. I bet the number is much smaller.
Too funny!!!!!
Wow! Lots of comments on this one. Here are my observations as someone who did not grow up in a community like HP but enjoys being able to do so now.
1. There was plenty of partying going on when I was in HS but none of us could afford a high caliber fake ID. What are we talking about here? A couple hundred dollars? Where is this cash coming from? My kids are too young right now but I am certain I would want some accounting on that kind of $$$.
2. There have been some comments about the HS kids posting FB photos featuring drinking. There are plenty of parents posting pics like that too! I am frequently amazed by this. And some of these people are “friends” with their kids and their friends so everyone gets to share in the fun!
3. Can’t remember the names of the posters above but I could relate to feeling like the parent who is always “up in arms”. My husband and I are often accused of being “uptight”. It irritates me that we have to be the “bad guy” all the time.
and finally (going a little off topic)…..for all the kids that feel insecure about not being cool or popular:
4. Give it 15 – 20 years. You will be quite surprised where all the chips end up falling.
Not even half an hour ago, I saw HP high school students with fake IDs trying to buy cigarettes and snuff from the 7-Eleven on Asbury. I guess finals are going on currently for them to be wandering around at noon on a Tuesday? They could not have been more than 15. They were trying to pass themselves off as 19. Like I said, in an earlier post here, I cannot really pass judgement on kids pulling the same kind of stunts I once did. But just the brazen nature of what they were doing made my eyes roll to the back of my head as well as a well known local barber who was in line with me. Actually, he was chuckling more than rolling his eyes.
Thank goodness the girl is okay. Probably not the best time to admit this, but started college at 16, had a fake I.D. by 17…and hadn’t thought of it since my 21st birthday til now. There were 102 posts before this one – did anyone else ever have one? Ever underage drink? Ever date a boy that was not right for you? Think about today…have you ever drank too much in front of your children? Had too many one mambo taxi at MiCocina? Laughed at stories of friends who had too many cocktails and did something stupid? Please let the families handle this situation privately. These kids have hopefully learned a huge lesson. We need to let them move on.
I agree with LL. Unless the feds get lucky and get the ringleader to provide his source in Austin, his fake ID business will be booming over the next week with the confiscated ones and school over. Wonder if his parents had him apply to Wharton?
Andrew: “What do you need a fake ID for?”
Brian: “To vote.”
Again, all I ever needed to know I learned in 80’s movies.
See, the key is to make sure that your kid has a reasonably low allowance and a crummy, novelty Alabama fake ID (like the one I had in HS) that only works at the ghetto beer stores (read: Park Lane and Shady Brook by Sam’s Club). That way they won’t be downing shots at a concert for $8 a pop, they’ll be drinking 12 packs of Bud Ice and Zima at whoever’s-parents-are-out-of-town’s house like normal high schoolers. Kids these days….
And, James Tucker, did you just say “Boy Toy” out loud with your super serious tone on?
Since you asked….In three generations of living in the Park Cities and graduating from Highland Park, none of us ever got arrested during high school except for traffic offenses (and one noise ordinance violation).
It’s just not that hard to avoid being arrested. Simply don’t break the law, and don’t hang with those who do.
I fully hold parents accountable for what their children do until they graduate from high school. After that, there’s an element of risk that parents can’t do much to control; only influence.
At one time, Highland Park had standards where things like this hardly ever happened. It’s clear relaxing those standards was a terrible idea.
PC Mom – aren’t you making the same argument as the high school kids, that everyone does it so don’t get mad at the ones who get caught?
Wouldn’t it be better to say we don’t want this type of behavior from our kids and the ones who behave this way should be held accountable?
Bill, It sounds like the HP and UP police need to visit some stores.
The girl did not have a fake ID. I know for a fact she didnt. It said that on the news but she did not have one. If she did have one then the young boy would of turned her name in for having a fake ID. but her name was not on the list, so stop accusing her for things. Unless you know the truth then you can speak. Thanks.
Should “highly esteemed” kids who have priors and sell fake ids be admitted to “prominent” colleges? Hmm…… I’m thinking there are actually more deserving and better behaved candidates out there.
And, all the kids in town say the id’s were made by an SMU student RELATED to one of the boys. He is turn sold them in groups of 10 for only $150 each vs the regular price of $500 an i.d. A future business leader. Daddy must be proud.
Don’t think the school will do anything about this either; they never do.
and..the “bar” she went to is called the palladium ballroom. Many events happen there. Many concerts, all ages. Literally, all ages. Palladium is just like the House of BLues, they sell drinks too. So she technically didnt go to a bar, she went to a concert, maybe her favorite band?
AND A LOT OF KIDS GO TO CONCERTS ON SCHOOL NIGHTS!! like why wouldn’t we??
i love this girl. and the 3 guys are very nice boys too.
I love the “blame the victim” story line. But of course, it’s her fault!
Although the Dallas Police don’t seem to think so – nay, they are after the adults who served her or provided her alcohol. 15 is not an adult in the eyes of the law. Don’t like it – write your congressman!
@Reality
who are you talking to?
@bc, I had the same fake ID!
I survived HP. I find that when I speak to people my age that went to other schools, I encountered FAR fewer dangerous situations than they.
In high school, there were plenty of good and well liked kids that didn’t party.
Most of my friends did a fair amount of drinking our senior year. I didn’t want to come home drunk to my early curfew and wide-awake parents. So when I wasn’t DD, I took the drinks offered me and discreetly used them to water the plants. Maybe I was stupid to not just take a stand and visibly not drink, but I never had to answer any questions or feel any pressure for not drinking.
Drinking in high school is nothing new for H.P. or any other school. It is a serious problem that should be taken as such. However, when my older brother was at HPHS, SEVERAL kids had to go to AA class at UP town hall because of a big party that was busted. Just before I started high school, a boy died in drinking related wreck. The other kids involved in that same accident went on to be productive good adults. My class is forever immortalized in wikipedia for one of the parties we threw. The list goes on and on and on and on.
Parents need to take an active role in their children’s lives. They need to set boundaries and consequences. I didn’t particularly want to deal with the wrath of God when I came home . . . .
Times have really changed. When I was in HS in the 70’s, no one was arrested. People were stopped for speeding and other traffic violations but that is about it. I had never heard of an MPI, PI or MIC until my kids were in HS. I am sure we were all of these things, but no one was arrested. The police are much more actively searching for suspects now, which is good but different. The standards were a lot lower in the 70’s. I think MADD has made a huge difference. I did know people that had fake IDs. I did not, but drinking was legal at 18. It’s really a different world now, and the consequences for bad behavior are a whole lot tougher than they used to be.
WOW, such a very large group of apparently bored people. If you start at the top of these comments and read them all the way through. You are all saying basically the same thing and repeating and repeating, have you all had a cocktail Does anyone remember the famous Warehouse Party? The whole senior class was involved. It was all over the papers, you know what these kids are now in their 30s and have become assets to society and their community. When else do you screw up, when you don’t have the knowledge or experience not to. The kids didn’t mean to drink too much, the parents didn’t throw the kid at the Palladium. It will become old news super fast, and you all can move on to the next “scandal”. IJS
Several comments:
I am a somewhat recent graduate of HP – times have probably changed a little bit, but not enough for my recollections to be unhelpful. In a class of 500, probably 250 of them drink, based on my recollection of around half my class drinking when we graduated. I don’t subscribe to the “it’s not a big deal” viewpoint, but I also have some deference to the “kids will be kids viewpoint” – i was in a fraternity in college, yada yada.
There’s a big difference between kids being kids and seniors getting freshmen drunk at concerts. Now, obviously, no one but the kids at the concert know who was getting her drinks. It’s totally possible that the three boys who have been implicated are being blamed for the actions of many at the concert. It’s totally possible that they weren’t even hanging out with the girl. Of course, it’s also totally possible that they were the ones getting her drunk. It doesn’t really matter.
I am barely sympathetic to the viewpoint that it’s not really her fault – after all, when I was a freshman, if a bunch of hot senior girls told me to do something, I probably would have done it. That being said, does she really have clean hands here? No way. Obviously, she could have avoided the situation entirely. That wouldn’t be the most popular thing to do, and a tough thing for a freshman in high school to understand, of course, but it’s unfair to act like she is totally faultless here.
Furthermore, there’s a pretty good chance no one (including the police) is ever really going to know what happened. If she was “that drunk” chances are here memory of the night is pretty black-out hazy. The guys have no incentive to talk, especially if their story is just going to be self-incriminatory.
They’re going to get in trouble for having the fake IDs, but the chain of custody between Austin and Dallas is going to be pretty hard to prove. I’m sure whoever the “Austin connection” is has already dumped his ID stuff. If there was in fact a kid in HP who was supplying the other students through a UT student, then there are probably a bunch of phone calls between the two of them – but that doesn’t prove anything alone. They could have been good friends just staying in touch.
It will be very interesting to see what comes of all of this. The one saving grace (in terms of justice seeing the light of day) is that the incident occurred at the Palladium (in Dallas) as opposed to someone’s house in HP or UP. The HP and UP police quite frankly are neither capable nor equipped to deal with these kind of investigations. They are traffic cops. There’s a reason Dallas police is called in whenever there’s any kind of real situation in the Park Cities.
“AND A LOT OF KIDS GO TO CONCERTS ON SCHOOL NIGHTS!! like why wouldn’t we??”
@Unknown:
1. Because you have to get up the next day and go to school.
2. Because you have homework and tests to study for.
3. Because you have a tournament to play in.
4. Because you need some sleep.
5. Because you are babysitting.
6. Because you are helping your little sister or brother with a project.
7. Because you are helping your parents by doing some chores.
8. Because you are damaging your hearing. (I know you’re really rolling your eyes on that one.)
9. Because you could be helping out a non-profit agency or volunteering for your church.
10. Because high-school teenagers shouldn’t be out partying with adults and alcohol.
But I guess you don’t really care about anything other than having a good time.
just stop making a big deal out of this. there is nothing you can do. its all over now!
I remember the Warehouse party. My son was a senior that year, and he was not there. So, the whole class did not participate.
@bc,
Like you said the ’80s movies are very instructive.
@MK,
I appreciate your comments. I hope I came across okay in my “super serious tone”.
All of you parents know whats going on in HP. Most parents let their kids host drinking parties at their houses. How is this a shock?!? Mommy and Daddy will always get them out of trouble. You would do the same and you did the same. Do you know that many of these HP parents are the ones that gave their children money to buy these ID’s? At 15 kids should know not to drink so much to blow a .4. If these boys dont walk at graduation, it will only prove how corrupt HPISD is. Yes a football player last year did get DWI’s (not just one- it just so happens being an HP quarterback means no ticket by HP police, but Dallas doesnt care) yet he still walked and even has a football scholarship. How about the rule that if you are in a sport and get in trouble you dont get to play anymore. No this is a rule based on favorites and who has money and connections. All of these kids drink. Starting the 9th grade, they all start to drink. it is the thing to do and it is obviously now unavoidable in HP. YOU parents let this happen. you know its been going on. dont be shocked.
On the topic of teenage drinking only (this is NOT a comment on the local teens involved in the Palladium story): I suggest that every parent read the book “Testimony” by Anita Shreve. It’s a fictional story about a small group of teenage boys and a younger, promiscuous girl; drinking gets them into big trouble. The consequences are forever for the boys, the girl, and the adults in the story. It’ll scare you. And I’m hoping it will scare my kid. He’ll be reading it before he starts high school.
In the reader discussion section, Shreve talked about her research on teenage drinking. She said that the parents she interviewed universally agreed that (1) teenage drinking is an epidemic; (2) almost all teenagers drink; and (3) their own child does not drink.
Here’s the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Testimony-Novel-Anita-Shreve/dp/0316067342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274828026&sr=1-1
It may be the best five bucks you ever spend.
My prediction is that nobody will have learned anything. The parents of the boys will do the wrong thing, and lawyer up. The girl’s parents will likely do the same thing. It’s even possible that none of the participants will be seriously scolded.
HP students will continue their mistaken belief of their own entitlement to be exempt from laws and rules, and everyone will eventually laugh over lots of talk, but no action.
Sometime in the future, some girl will die or become a vegetable, and she will become a human sacrifice for previous inaction.
At a school where cheating, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, social abuse, and other examples of misbehavior is tolerated and excused, the ticking time bomb is bad citizens, and next-generational lawlessness.
Too bad. The education can be one of the best on the planet.
…caught the English error after hitting the submit button….for those who care
THANK YOU, LAURIE !!!
@UNKNOWN
its ‘could have’ not ‘could of’…ga
Fortunately, there has been much talk of the relationship between the 15 year old girl and the. senior boys. Hopefully, none of the boys were stupid enough to be dating this freshman, who of course is under the age of consent.
If for instance the 19 year old were found to be in a relationship with the 15 year old girl, he would be wide-open to prosecution In Texas since he is more than 3 years older.
We all know where alcohol, partying and unsupervised teens leads.
for pete’s sake,
where does the school district
get so high and mighty that they
can punish students for behavior
when they are not in class or at
a school event?
morals police is not a role the
school district should play.
Hello HP Attorney,
Dallas Police was callled because it happened in DAllAS! Had it happened in UP or HP the “Traffic Cops” would have to deal with it. DPD would not be called in because they have no jurisdiction. This is basic police 101 work. Keep up the civil work.
@HELLO
Not ALL the kids drink, but it’s getting difficult for those who don’t to find anyone to hang with! Very sad that good behavior negatively impacts their ability to have some fun in high school. It’s very true that rules are selectively applied by the football coaches and administration. This group of senior boys have been treated like they were the chosen ones for so long, they do not feel accountable to anyone. Their problems and attitudes negatively impacted the whole football season. Parents who who want popular children, coaches whose only priority is winning, and an administration that is weak are to blame. Same old story, same old dance. Odds on a different outcome?
Let’s take this in a different direction. PLEASE!
At the end of each year, 2 graduates from HP are selected to receive “The Blue Blanket Award”. I would venture to guess that these two students are not amongst the “everybody is drinking crowd”. Call me naive, but it is my best guess. Also at the senior awards assembly, students are awarded various scholarships. Most are in memory/honor of someone that has been part of this community. I wonder how the families of those being remembered choose these recipients? If EVERYONE is drinking, who do they name as the deserving honorees that will represent someone they deeply loved? Ever heard of C.A.R.E.? This is a program offered through the YMCA and stands for Chemical Awareness Resources and Education. They also give scholarships to recipients who have shown their commitment to the abstinence of drug and alcohol abuse as well as educating others. Wonder how all of these groups find any one to give these honors/scholarships to if everyone is simply interested in partying??? Though I did not personally know any of the students honored with the CARE scholarships last year, I did read their profiles and responses to Q & A’s in a mailer sent out after graduation. Quite to the contrary of some of the above comments, these students did choose a different lifestyle. Even more impressive was their involvement at HPHS. Captains and participants in various varsity sports, a lead actor in the musical, Homecoming Queen, members of HP Football’s Player Committee, leaders of FCA, founder of Iron Sharpens Iron (a student led Christian based club), a Scotman, Student Council representatives, class officers, etc. So, these students…..who were chosen because of their commitment to lead lives that were drug and alchohol free, were actually LEADERS in our community!!!!! My guess is that other scholarship recipients reflected likeminded students and there are MANY MORE each year who do not receive awards that also follow this philosophy of living. I believe that there are more kids living within the law, have had great high school experiences and are liked and respected by their peers without giving into the pressure of “everybody is doing it.” There are students out there that can and do live without the red solo cups and fake IDs that have been written about in the above comments and in the press. Congratulations to all those who have risen to the challenge to be different. You give us all hope.
It’s frightening to think about what this 15 year must have experienced and felt last Thursday night. Unfortunately, the Paladium is not the only host accepting fake IDs of our minor love ones.
After dinner on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, drop by the Kinki Lounge on lower Greenville or the Glo Lounge on Knox/Henderson. You might be surprised to see which HPHS student you see on the stage go-go dancing in a skimpy bra and panty outfit with dollar bills hanging from their straps. If they aren’t on the stage dancing, you might see they have a drink while observing the bizarre atmosphere.
It’s not only drinking, smoking and drugs we need to be concerned about…..
Not everyone at HP drinks. I’d say a very accurate number would be 70% of seniors (i’m a senior).
And honestly, our grade is very good about not drinking and driving. So other than this incident, there’s generally no harm done (except breaking the law).
And quit blaming the guys. They deserve the charges they have, but they didn’t force anything down her throat. The girl made the choice to drink, and yes, 15 is old enough to make your own decisions. Everyone does by that age. She made a poor one. I’m glad she’s ok, but this is her fault.
@HELLO The football player with the DWI graduated in December and has not walked yet. I would also argue with your assertion that “most” parents let their kids host drinking parties. I agree that some do and I find that appalling, but I have a graduating senior and I know a lot of senior parents who do not permit drinking in their homes.
To Concerned Mom-
Plain and simple- You are gossiping!
Pingback:Let’s Squash Some Palladium Rumors « Park Cities People
For those saying that all kids make mistakes… I completely agree. I did. My son and daughter have. It does, in a way, go with the territory of being a kid. So, I completely agree that these kids made mistakes. (And the 18 and 19 year old young adults made mistakes as well.) However, I find our community is a bit defined by our ability to protect our kids from the consequences of their mistakes. I believe that if a parent doesn’t enforce consequences for knowingly poor decisions, life will eventually issue consequences of its own. Then, the parents go into overdrive trying to prevent this process (attorneys, general sweeping of things under the rug, etc.) Don’t even get me started about the parents who provide opportunities for this type of behavior. That is a whole different issue in my mind.
My hope would be that when mistakes such as these, that could have had tragic repercussions, happen, that the students and community members would take it as an opportunity to prevent it from happening again. (Talk to their kids, set new boundaries for behavior, issue consequences, band together with other parents in enforcement, etc.) In other words, instead of allowing the problem to get larger, find a way to decrease the probability of it happening again. However, I have seen and heard a prevalent attitude of “it’s not that big of a deal” and “it’s going to happen, you can’t stop it, so why try”. Not from everyone, mind you. But, from many young people and some adults as well.
The fact that this incident happened is not shocking to me. The attitude about it is what I find most disturbing.
Callie, unless there are significant consequences for “mistakes”, they will keep happening.
I couldn’t agree more with you about the casual attitude of some. Bad parenting is the gift that keeps on punishing for generations.
If as reported above, the girl is discussing the whole thing with friends on FaceBook, there were no consequences for the girl from her parents. So, why would she stop? I wonder what color of Range Rover they picked out for her?
@ Senior
“No harm done (except breaking the law.)
Your comment makes me really sad. I won’t change your mind, but harm was done by everyone involved. It just may not be evident to you for many years, if ever.
“Though I did not personally know any of the students honored with the CARE scholarships last year… Quite to the contrary of some of the above comments, these students did choose a different lifestyle”
@Glass Half Full
I have no intentions of discussing the situation involving the freshman girl or senior boys. I would like to point out to you that I did in fact know several of the students who received the CARE scholarships last year. Several of them DID drink and DID do drugs. I find it quite sad how good some kids are at fibbing on resumes, especially when students, such as myself, actually work hard for the scholarships and awards we recieve. It seems like many of my peers get away with almost anything, and still get commended by the community for being “outstanding leaders”. Unfortunately you can’t believe everyone’s “impressive resume”.
I was told by my HP student that it is very common for girls at HP to have vodka in their water bottles that they carry around. Things haven’t changed much since we were their age—just we were using inferior alcohol!!
@HPHS student
so true! I just don’t know why everyone (parents mostly) are freaking out about this. like they didn’t ALL know how many of us (I personally don’t but you know what I mean) drink and break the law. they just like having scapegoats I guess but the truth is, its pretty much everybody.
@laurie
you are a joke
@laurie
….hahah well ya good point but..
WHAT IF?
what if we didnt care about getting up early
what if we didnt have homework or a test
what if we didnt have a tournament to play in
what if we didnt need sleep
what if we weren’t babysitting
what if our little brother or sister could do it on their own, what if we didn’t have a younger sibling
what if our parents didn’t need our help
what if we weren’t damaging our hearing (I know you’re really rolling your eyes on that one.)
what if we didn’t need to help a non-profit agency
what if we weren’t out with adults but just with our friends.
oh yea WHAT IF?
oh and about the freshman class….the majority of them drink. I bet about only 80 do not drink. I would know:)
is the 15 year old girls friends partiers?
@ N.F.
“HP students will continue their mistaken belief of their own entitlement to be exempt from laws and rules…”
They learn entitlement from observing their parents’ behavior in the MIS/HPMS carpool line. IJS
@laurie
WHAT IF WE DIDN’T HAVE THE THINGS TO DO?
huh huh?
WHAT IF
1. Because you have to get up the next day and go to school.
2. Because you have homework and tests to study for.
3. Because you have a tournament to play in.
4. Because you need some sleep.
5. Because you are babysitting.
6. Because you are helping your little sister or brother with a project.
7. Because you are helping your parents by doing some chores.
8. Because you are damaging your hearing. (I know you’re really rolling your eyes on that one.)
9. Because you could be helping out a non-profit agency or volunteering for your church.
10. Because high-school teenagers shouldn’t be out partying with adults and alcohol.
oh and btw..
the majority of the freshman class drink, about 80 of them DO NOT drink. shocker. I would know:)
@laurie
WHAT IF WE DIDN’T HAVE THE THINGS TO DO?
huh huh?
WHAT IF
1. Because you have to get up the next day and go to school.
2. Because you have homework and tests to study for.
3. Because you have a tournament to play in.
4. Because you need some sleep.
5. Because you are babysitting.
6. Because you are helping your little sister or brother with a project.
7. Because you are helping your parents by doing some chores.
8. Because you are damaging your hearing. (I know you’re really rolling your eyes on that one.)
9. Because you could be helping out a non-profit agency or volunteering for your church.
10. Because high-school teenagers shouldn’t be out partying with adults and alcohol.
oh and btw..
the majority of the freshman class drink, about 80 of them DO NOT drink. shocker. I would know:)
the mom one was my moms..i was accidently on hers:)
are the 15 year old girls friends known as partiers in their grade?
@laurie
WHAT IF WE DIDN’T HAVE THE THINGS TO DO?
huh huh?
WHAT IF
1. Because you have to get up the next day and go to school.
2. Because you have homework and tests to study for.
3. Because you have a tournament to play in.
4. Because you need some sleep.
5. Because you are babysitting.
6. Because you are helping your little sister or brother with a project.
7. Because you are helping your parents by doing some chores.
8. Because you are damaging your hearing. (I know you’re really rolling your eyes on that one.)
9. Because you could be helping out a non-profit agency or volunteering for your church.
10. Because high-school teenagers shouldn’t be out partying with adults and alcohol.
oh and btw..
the majority of the freshman class drink, about 80 of them DO NOT drink. shocker. I would know:)
@unknown,
You’ve responses say so much about you and your values. Sad.
@ukwn
thanks for areeing!
@laurie
It’s you’re not you’ve, nice try;)
and I have good values. You don’t even know who I am. So don’t judge. (you can’t judge a book by it’s cover)
are the 15 year old girl friends partiers?
You are all such whimps. This is not the guys fault but the girls. She got the licence went there drunk out of her mind and started to do shots and take in heavu alchoal. All of you guys saying that it was the parents fault or the 19 year old’s fault WRONG!!! Be a little bit more smart and think outside of “the bubble”.
@UNKNOWN: It’s agreeing, not areeing. Nice try, now get back to class and learn.
@unknown, this is really getting funny. I made a typo because I changed the sentence. You, however, completely missed the punctuation. Try “its” next time as a possessive of “it”.
P.S. I’m not judging you as a book cover. Your opinions on the blog are like the content inside the book.
You can have the last word. I have to go save a country in Africa.
This is crazy and ridiculous. All seniors party. Its a known fact. The student was obviously a partier before this incident and she must have know of the consenquences before drinking. All students that come through the highland park schools attend the DARE program. They know the facts, yet choose to not listen. I blame both parties involved. Both made big mistakes on their part. The freshman is in my grade and has surrounded herself in this party group. She can only blame herself. As for the seniors, they made a large large self destructing decision on their part to bring her with them and to create those fake ID’s. I feel glad that they are able to attend graduation with their friends.
laurie i am sorry you are so perfect and really quick to point fingers…not all kids have psycho mothers that prevent kids from having social lives…if you have children i feel sorry for them
@laurie
OMG IM GOING TO AFRICA TOMORROW TOO!! HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! but seriously…I am going there tomorrow, no joke.
@Parenting101 It is not the parents’ fault. Kids have free will. If parents pry into their kids’ belongings everyday, where will the trust between the generations develop. I’d rather have freedom over security, and the total elimination of privacy is not a smart idea.
@NOT NOT Named’s Mother
Insulting others is not going to help anyone here, so I would very much appreciate it if you keep that kind of commentary to yourself.
Yall are so dumb to think these boys involved are bad kids. They are great kids and are wonderful to Highland Park. They had nothing to do with the girl getting to the concert or getting drunk. Wrong place wrong time. If you insulted them and their parents you should shut the heck up and mind your own business. HP parents are so damn nosey and try to act so perfect.
@kido17,
This must have really been gnawing at you for the last YEAR since the last post.
You Learned Him, XT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SO what was the end result ?
what about the Palladium ?
What aboiut the manger who handled all this ?
Still have notr seen any commnets from them ?
What about the kids who lied
What about minors drinking
what about ID’s so good they could sacan thru an airport ir even a ploice scanner
What about ther boy did he raper her
WHAT WHAT WHAT
SHUT UP ! life is full of miustakes we all make them them its how we respond that makes us better
SO NEXT