Is this really SMU's fault?

[jtstang]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... e0943.html

Or, perhaps when you notice your daughter's drug use in February, some parental intervention before she's dead in May would be appropriate.

I'm sorry for this dad's loss, but this smacks of deflecting responsibility.

[NavyCrimson]

They ought to try California schools.

It's rampant today no matter where you go. It's even in the small towns of Texarkana, etc. I've got relatives that are in this culture & you can't tell them anything!

It's the 60's generation in charge & this is what they've wanted for 40 years & it's finally gotten to where they wanted - almost.

Sad, so sad.

[mrydel]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/060507dnmetsmustudent.32e0943.html

Or, perhaps when you notice your daughter's drug use in February, some parental intervention before she's dead in May would be appropriate.

I'm sorry for this dad's loss, but this smacks of deflecting responsibility.

I have got to disagree with you somewhat Jt. Knowing what is going on and being able to control the actions of ones "legal age" daughter is another. When I was at SMU, I did things of whcih I am sure my parents would not have approved, and they lived closer than her parents (Richardson), but they had no idea what I was doing and when I was doing it. Short of pulling her out of school and dragging her home, which they could have done as parents I suppose, I do not know what they could have done to stop someone who is intent on doing drugs. As I have mentioned before, my brother, 59 years old at the time, was an avid, active alcoholic. My parents took full responsiblity and kept him in their home and tried to get him help and keep him from endangering himself and others. It worked to an extent for about 20 years. He subsequently died either from a suicidal car crash or a one car auto accident while inebriated. Parents can only go so far, and Universities can only go so far. The answer I would say is being sure both go as far as they can within proper boundaries, laws, and love.

[Bergermeister]

I do not know what they could have done to stop someone who is intent on doing drugs. .

NOTHING. The dad needs to step away from the microphone.

[jtstang]

Short of pulling her out of school and dragging her home, which they could have done as parents I suppose, I do not know what they could have done to stop someone who is intent on doing drugs.

If that's true, and I don't doubt that there is some truth to what you're saying, what exactly is the educational institution supposed to do about it?

[ponyfan84]

Well first off, the parents probably weren't aware, as this is a problem you can hide easily on a college campus. Even if they were, their daughter had more power over her own body than they did and she could say "Yea sure I'll stop", but 2 days later go back to this guys house.

Also, it's not SMUs fault. Drugs are present on every college campus in some form or another. Some people can handle them responsibly, some avoid them, some experiment, some just become drug addicts and some go too far and have accidents like the three students who died since December. I consider drinking a drug because alcohol is indeed a drug. There is no way to avoid this, as trying to prevent kids from using drugs in college will only make them want to do it more. It's a sad reality, and the only people who can stop this are the people themselves by saying no and resisting the temptations drugs bring.

I can also understand the dads anger in blaming SMU for lack of a drug awareness, as I would have done the same thing. Hopefully, no more tragedies like this happen in our community, as they happen thousands of times a year at colleges from Maine to California.

Edit: One more thing, since this is college, not high school, kids don't get the special treatment and get in as much trouble with the school if they mess up outside the classroom. College's can't really tend to everyone's needs like a high school can, so people slip through with problems on a weekly basis.

[RGV Pony]

I don't think it's SMU's fault...but I do think it's a story angle with teeth. What was the storyline a few years ago about the kids in Plano...was it heroin? Kind of like politicians and illicit relationships (see Larry Flynt's bounty of $1M for any footage of a politician 'compromised'), white collar kids from well to do families with drug problems seems to be a recurring angle that the press or whomever will jump on, appropriate or not.

[PonySoprano]

Well first off, the parents probably weren't aware

Accoring to the May 25th article in the DMN, her Mom knew about her using cocaine:

In recent months, Ms. Bosch had lost as much as 20 pounds, stopped going to class and didn't call her parents. She was depressed but refused to take her anti-depressant medicine, and she became defensive when confronted about her red, runny nose.

"This was a kid who got involved in drugs and shouldn't have, and that's the truth," said her mother, Lynn, sobbing. "But she wasn't some person living on the street shooting up heroin. This wasn't a street-smart kid, this was a kid who spent every day of her life taking care of her horse."

The week before Meaghan died, Lynn Bosch helped install a granite countertop, new sink and backsplash with travertine tiles in a northeast Dallas condo she and her husband purchased for their daughter near SMU.

As was her habit, the doting mother brought an armful of new clothes for her daughter. When they walked into the bedroom to try on the outfits, Ms. Bosch pulled back the comforter on her bed.

There, a coiled dollar bill – commonly used to snort cocaine – lay on the sheets.

The mother and daughter looked at each other, knowing.

"Mom, don't be angry with me," the young woman said. "Nothing's going to happen to me."

"Well, I'm just worried about you," Lynn said.

"Nothing's going to happen to me. What would happen to me, mom?"

[mrydel]

Short of pulling her out of school and dragging her home, which they could have done as parents I suppose, I do not know what they could have done to stop someone who is intent on doing drugs.

If that's true, and I don't doubt that there is some truth to what you're saying, what exactly is the educational institution supposed to do about it?

I agree with your point about the school. I am sure that SMU and all schools do some sort of drug awareness notification, but you can not tie the kids up in their rooms. My point of contention with your statement was not the school but rather remarking on the fact that it is nearly impossible for the parents to do anything about the kid's decisions. The responsiblity lands with the deceased.

[friarwolf]

What ever happened to personal accountability???????

Unfortunately, I am afraid this story is going to have legs to it. I am sure our friends at Belo are digging to find kids and parents who will be oh so willing to say SMU pays lip service to addiction issues and tacitly gives approval to the kids to indulge in illicit behavior............

[Terry Webster]

Before we beat up her dad too much, what he is doing is really normal. Anytime you have something like this, it is normal to deal with a lot of anger at pretty much anyone and anything. Grief is a difficult thing with lots of different emotions. Him being angry at SMU and anyone who knew his daughter is part of the process.

[SMU Football Blog]

I personally don't think the drug problem at SMU is any better or worse than anywhere else. Still, it is in SMU's best interest to curb drug use as best it can.

He blames the greek system, but was she even in a sorority? That hasn't been mentioned in any story.

Ultimately, she was an adult living off campus not going to class. What responsibility can a university have?

[friarwolf]

Before we beat up her dad too much, what he is doing is really normal. Anytime you have something like this, it is normal to deal with a lot of anger at pretty much anyone and anything. Grief is a difficult thing with lots of different emotions. Him being angry at SMU and anyone who knew his daughter is part of the process.

What he is doing is pointing the blame everywhere except where it resides which is squarely upon his adult age daughter. And in doing so, making it a no win situation for our university................

[PonyKai]

Still, you have give him the benefit of the doubt after losing his daughter. Look at Josh Hancock's father in the wake of his son's death. He filed charges against the restaurant, also naming the toe truck driver and toe truck customer in the law suit. I'd be hesitant to say that it's acceptable, but it cannot be beaten down too much. Especially when there's no one to blame for someone's death, you always look for someone.

[SMUtrojanFAN]

He blames the greek system, but was she even in a sorority? That hasn't been mentioned in any story.

According to Facebook, no - she wasn't. But I think it's kind of rare for transfer students to go through rush - especially girls.