When I am not blogging about things I love, I throw a few well deserved bricks at Cal Poly. Over the years, Cal Poly has received much well deserved national attention as a leader in squashing student rights that are clearly protected by the constitution. However, when it comes to throwing students out of school for rioting, drugs and such … they show a remarkable tolerance.
Nothing so clearly demonstrates the collision of cultures better than a recent story about a young underage male coming to the rescue of his underage alcohol boozing roommate only to get arrested himself… and then having the additional problem of possession of cocaine. Interestingly enough, the youngins didn’t understand ‘the problem.’ Oh yes, we have had the rioting and excessive partying completing the full academic experience.
Cal Poly has had a couple of deaths this academic year I believe, maybe more, I haven’t kept score, from ‘alcohol related instances’ as they call them. Local hospitals report an alarming number of college age youth coming in severely ‘impaired.’ Nothing of this is a surprise and — from what I can see — nothing is happening at Cal Poly… or likely will ever be.
I remember on one site that discussed colleges, one experienced allegedly Cal Poly student wrote,” Cal Poly is a great choice because school won’t interfere with your social life.” I wonder how many parents would be thrilled to read this?
This overt behavior can be addressed, but it takes the ‘will’ to stop it… and it takes more than a Cal Poly ‘wink.’ It takes a real commitment to excellence.
The world is a lot more serious and competitive place now, it’s time that Cal Poly grows up and face it.
Roger Freberg
Here’s a link to one very sad event.