The administrators are dumb. Kids are going to drink; now they just won't the pictures online. If that was their goal, then that's great I suppose. Too bad it was accomplished at a cost of tons of college scholarships out the window.

Drinking is bad. Administrators weirdly looking at students pictures doesn't solve anythng.

The worst behavior in this situation comes from the school administration. Apparently they strive to control the lives of their students through participation in sports programs (which I also think are way overblown). There is no proof what beverage was consumed, or by whom.

As a computer scientist, I am ashamed that someone in my profession would create applications such as Facebook, YouTube, etc which invade peoples homes, and allow children to publicise inappropriate, coarse behavior.

Student post pics on Facebook for all the world to see. School administrator logs on to Facebook. Student complains "I think it's a huge invasion of privacy."

Definitely gobsmackingly dumb.

Employers, higher education officials, and many others search these blog sites for information. I have a Facebook account, but I am very selective in who has access to it. You can also set it up so others can't see your photos. Many student groups such as some fraternities and sororities are forbidding members to have open accounts. These young students need to learn to use their heads. Duh! I can't imagine the heat the student who posted the photos is taking right now!

I didn't do it, no one saw me do it, you can't prove anything!

er - well, maybe you can.

Honestly, where do these kids get an expectation of privacy on the Internet? That's like expecting shade on the sun. Privacy is such a 20th-century concept, anyway.

Of course, it's not surprising, since they were (1) teenagers and (2) drunk. Either one is bad enough on its own, but the two together are impossible to overcome.

Actually, anyone who drinks the beer typically sold in 40-oz containers probably needs to be disciplined anyway, regardless of age. That stuff is nasty.

...I'm having a Princess Bride moment here - "I do not believe that means what you think it means."

Isn't it frightening that they're going to be able to vote in a couple years?

What I don't like is how this is giving all Eden Prairie students a bad reputation. I'm a student at the school, but don't even know how Facebook works. It's not like students in other schools don't do the same thing. It isn't fair that only one school is being singled out for something students across the country - not just state - are doing.

As a teenager once (a long time ago) I agree this is not going to stop them from drinking. It may make them more careful on what they put on facebook though. We all know those in the pictures were probably drinking (because at that age we would have been too) but can you physically prove it? Were the kids physically caught at a party drinking? I am not saying underage drinking is ok by any means. Unless there is hard physcial proof that they consumed can they be suspended from sports? What do the MSHSL rules say? I just checked and the rules do say "Have in posession" so it looks like they can be suspended.

I think some students tend to be rather dim on occasion, and this is one of them: how many times have we heard of teachers getting in trouble for their, ahem, questionable material available to the public on the internet? Did the students not figure out that they would be next - especially when their activity is illegal, not just questionable on moral grounds (as seems to be the case frequently with the teachers' conduct)?

I dont think it's a shock to anyone that teenagers drink, that has been going on for as long as there have been teenagers and alcohol. Here is a quick tip for the children of my friends and neighbors...if you are going to commit a crime, like underage drinking, dont put a picture of yourself on the internet! DUH!

Better yet if you are an athlete and have signed a pledge to abstain, try having the courage to live up to the promise you made. The shame isn't that you got caught, the shame is you didn't have the integrity to keep your promise.

Yes, it is quite dumb to put that kind of stuff online for anyone to see... The internet was just becoming popular when I was in high school, and even then we knew better than putting something potentially incriminating on the internet. Or, if we did, we made sure to keep it well hidden or anonymous...

But on the other hand, I think the school is opening a can of worms for themselves, and should probably expect to hear from the ACLU soon... See, there are just too many "what ifs" involved in trying to use an unverified photograph as the sole evidence of wrongdoing. What if it's somebody that just looks like the person? (Many of the people who got in trouble were found on their friends' sites, not their own, so you don't know for sure that it's the same person...)

Secondly, what if they're in a location where drinking is legal? There are plenty of high school seniors who take their spring break vacations in Mexico so that they can drink legally - is that really a problem? Granted, the athletes agreed to never drink, which probably includes drinking legally, so they're kinda screwed... But anybody who didn't sign something saying they wouldn't drink is perfectly free to do it as long as it's legal.

And most importantly, without actually seeing a picture of the alcohol going into their mouths, they really don't have any "proof" of any wrongdoing. Sure, it's pretty unlikely that you'll be at a party holding a drink and not actually drinking it, but there are cases where there's somebody at a party holding a cup with an unknown drink inside it, and that person might actually be drinking something non-alcoholic. I have lots of friends, in their upper 20's, who go to parties and don't drink, so I don't see why it would be that odd for someone to be in a picture where booze is present and not actually be guilty of any wrongdoing. (There aren't any rules against being in the presence of alcohol, are there?)

I'm not defending the morons who got themselves in trouble by putting pictures of themselves holding beer cans on their websites, I'm just saying the school is making a mistake by trying to use it to bust them. And I'm also saying that it is possible that some of these people are actually innocent of any wrongdoing, and without proof, it'll be impossible for the school to differentiate between those who are actually innocent, and those who just claim to be innocent.

The administrators are dumb. Kids are going to drink; now they just won't the pictures online. If that was their goal, then that's great I suppose.

I think a good goal would be to remind people that being drunk and monumentally stupid/arrogant is worse than just being drunk.

Too bad it was accomplished at a cost of tons of college scholarships out the window.

No, that's a GOOD thing. The scholarships didn't disappear; they just might go to kids who deserve them more than these morons.

It isn't fair that only one school is being singled out for something students across the country - not just state - are doing.

You're right. It is unfair. All those other students across the country who are engaging in underage drinking should be suffering the same consequences as the crew at Eden Prairie.

Please explain, if you will, just how that unfairness excuses the crew at Eden Prairie from the consequences of their actions.

Teen drinking hasn't changed. I think we're all pretty much in agreement, some teens will drink no matter what. Let's keep in mind this particular "face" was a teen, a senior at that, who is in sports. Bottom line, he agreed in writing to suffer consequences if he did not abide by what was expected of him. What are we teaching our precious wee ones if he's not held accountable? "YOU DO THE CRIME, YOU PAY THE TIME"

Teen drinking hasn't changed. I think we're all pretty much in agreement, some teens will drink no matter what. Let's keep in mind this particular "face" was a teen, a senior at that, who is in sports. Bottom line, he agreed in writing to suffer consequences if he did not abide by what was expected of him. What are we teaching our precious wee ones if he's not held accountable? "YOU DO THE CRIME, YOU PAY THE TIME"

I don't think the Administrators went directly to the Facebook site on a whim. More than likely a teacher came across it via Stumble Upon, or else another student who (A) wasn't at the party, (B) has a Facebook account, and (C) has one of the partygoers linked as a Friend saw the pictures, recognized the people in the pictures, and forwarded a link to a teacher or Administrator. I'm thinking it was a student, more than likely someone who wasn't invited to the party for some reason, and decided to get revenge by getting all the students who did attend in trouble.

People need to be more careful of what they put on the Internet, especially when it comes to pictures. Typing or posting in a blog is not like writing in a hard-copy diary or journal, which can be hidden safely from view, and can only be viewed by the person writing in it, and anyone else whom they allow to do so.

PatrickRsGhost

Surprising how many of us not only survive that kind of idiocy, but also grow into responsible adults AND thrive. I don't believe it's the school admin's place to monitor the pupils this way. Maybe there isn't a Constitutional right to this being "private" but there's something far too Big Brother about it for me.

Kids who think "Parents (or teachers/principals) won't know, they're too dumb" arrive at adulthood every day, realizing with a shock that those folks aren't so dumb after all. My own Lovely Daughter did some stunts that put even my best teenage antics to shame. But at nearly 22 & a young married mother, she knows I was smarter than her then. My mum was smarter than I, too.

Again, that's an issue between a parent and child, not the government.

I am ashamed that someone in my profession would create applications such as Facebook, YouTube, etc which invade peoples homes, and allow children to publicise inappropriate, coarse behavior.

I think that figuring out how to prevent or minimize inappropriate, coarse behavior is the real objective.

Wishing to un-invent technology does not lead to solutions.

Again, that's an issue between a parent and child, not the government.

But the pledge not to drink was submitted to an arm of the government (the school system). The contract is between the student and the school system; the parents aren't in the picture here.

You can always refuse to sign.

I really dont think people understand the severity of all this publicity. It isn't just a couple of kids who got caught, and someone's getting revenge. It's the entire school that's freakin out about it. Whoever did this wanted to get the whole school. And they certainly succeeded.

Ask anyone in highschool 10, 20, 30 years ago and they were, or knew of people, doing the same thing. They just didn't have 24-7 online coverage of their stupidity. Are these kids dumb...yes, but not any dumber than my classmates and I were 15 years ago.

I live in Pequannock, NJ, where the school system has instituted random drug and alcohol tests. Any kid walking into any school function (dance, football game, etc) can be singled out for a breathalyzer test. If it shows the kid's been drinking, the parents are called and the kid's barred from extra-curricular activities for a period of time. My son's in 8th grade, and I'm really glad for this policy. Among other things, it gives kids an "out" when their friends offer them drugs or booze. And I'll be really glad to find out if my kid's been drinking, even if I have to find out from the school principal.

Sure, kids will always find a way to drink/do drugs, but anything we can do to curtail the activity is OK by me.

I use Facebook myself (I remain skeptical of social networking sites in general, but since most of my siblings are on Facebook these days I figure I should probably keep up,) and if I was to do something monumentally stupid and have pictures of it posted on Facebook (note that you won't necessarily be the one posting them, someone else can post them and you can get "Tagged" in the pictures) with all the brothers, sisters, aunts and cousins that I have on my Facebook friends list, I suspect my mother would know about it in roughly ten minutes.

like, dude, it's like tattooing, "GUILTY, shoot me," on your forehead, you know? getting those pix on facebook? that's so like your permanent record, word.

headedwest...I couldn't agree with you more.

"For a generation that’s supposedly so technologically adept, they seem to think they inhabit a parallel internet whose mysteries and secrets are available only to a select few." Very true. But I think the problem is a little bit larger than the astonishing naivete of many users of the Internet. Call me an old fogey if you like (I went to college with you, Mr. Lileks, sir), but it seems to me that we are raising an entire generation with literally no concept of the meaning of the word "privacy", other than in some vague sense along the lines of "my inalienable right to magically keep certain people from having access to information I make public to the entire rest of the world". When I first came across the concept of an "online diary", I was stunned -- why, when *I* was a kid, they actually put *locks* on diaries (and if you think it's easy putting locks on stone tablets, you should try it sometime), because the last thing in the world you wanted was someone else reading your private thoughts. Now, it seems that the more private the thought, or the moment, the more Internet-worthy it becomes. Unless, of course, your principal/employer/spouse sees it, in which case a "massive invasion of privacy" has been committed.

I was a high school student 22 years ago. Now I'm a high school teacher with Facebook and MySpace accounts. Occasionally a few of my students stumble across my account and add me to their "Friends" lists. If I were the tiniest bit interested in checking up on their activities, I could. I'm not, and I don't.

However, I am also an administrator at a residential summer arts program which hires a number of college-aged students to act as Resident Advisor, and I do use those accounts to check out the profiles of the young adults who apply for summer jobs. Very few of them have bothered to set up their accounts to they are inaccessible to the general public, and the pictures and comments they post on the WORLD-WIDE Web (emphasis mine) frequently leave me in slack-jawed amazement. (Of course, my high school students talk openly about everything that went on at last weekend's parties regardless of nearby teachers, so I don't know why it surprises me, but it does.) And yes, if I see a picture of a 20-year-old job applicant pounding a beer at a fraternity party, it will eliminate him from consideration for a job -- not only because of the underage drinking (which would be hypocritical), but because of the incredibly poor judgement posting such pictures shows. And yes, I do tell them why I will not be offering them a job.

Judging from what I see and hear, there's really very little difference between what we did at parties in 1985 and my students are doing today. The difference lies in what happens afterwards. Back then, we kept quiet about it. Today, they broadcast it to the world.

Is it to educate kids? Or is to function as an arm of the local police without all that annoying Constitutional red tape? American public schools are increasingly incompetent at teaching, so why should they be going into policing?

Forward the pics onto the parents of the suspected students and let them parent.

When are people going to realize that by making young people hide their alcohol use from their parents, teachers, and other adults results in them having no concept of drinking safely when they do get the opportunity. In recent months there have been at least three college students have died of alcohol poisoning. Instead of continuing to try to eliminate teen drinking, we should be more focused on teaching responsibility and putting teens in safe situations where they can be monitored by responsible adults. In most European countries people can legally drink when they are sixteen or even younger. Not surprising, these teens usually learn much more responsible drinking behavior. Instead we listen to zealots like MADD who force students to hide their drinking, which results in even more reckless behavior.

Are you for real? Give me a break!

Column A reads that the kids screwed up. But I'm inclined to think that most of the screwing up occurred when they were foolish enough to post the pictures online.

Yes, underage drinking can be an issue, and should be discouraged. But somewhere in my archives, there are pictures of myself and a couple of my buddies sitting at a table playing Monopoly, with cans of Budweiser in front of us. That was when I was a High School Senior. But it wasn't quite as much of a scandal, back in the day.

And at another level, some of them did sign something saying they wouldn't drink alcohol. But how much duress is involved in that? If they aren't old enough to make responsible choices in the first place, and it has to be illegal for them to consume alcohol, how can one hold them responsible for signing something that they were told they had to sign in order to be able to play their sport, or whatever?

OTOH, they were kids, doing what kids will do. This seems to me like a lot of agitation over things that are relatively normal for older teenagers, regardless of how badly the "authorities" want to make them stop.

Hey. I'm old now, but I do still remember being young. The harder someone in authority tried to stop me from doing something that I thought I wanted to do, the more likely I was to go ahead and do it.

It seems like way more sound and fury than the event warrants, to me.

Ok, I realize I am in the minority in today's society, but why is there to much tolerance for abusing alcohol?

A Ramsey County Sheriff's wife was killed on New Year's Day because of a wrong-way driver. Hmmm... "authorities suspect alcohol was involved". Really?

I never really understood the attraction people have towards alcohol. It changes your personality. It removes your inhibitions. You aren't the same person under the influence. Your reasoning is heavily impaired. Yet you are legally responsible for your actions, even if you have no idea what you are doing. NO THANK YOU.

Why is this kind of stuff tolerated? I just don't get it. Drunk drivers, kids abusing alcohol to the point of dying from alcohol poisoning, abusive parents.

Lots of good points here but I'm wondering...how can the kids NOT know they'd get all sorts of exposure? A secret's only a secret if all the other participants are DEAD!

This is not going to affect underage drinking in any way, only underage picture taking.

First off, I am a high school student athlete that attends a public school in a suburb near Eden Prairie. My school district has a substance abuse policy that is exactly identical to EPHS. At the beginning of every school year every student has the entire school district policy manual read to them verbatim, as you can imagine this is a lengthy process that most students, including myself, don't even bother paying attention to. After the reading every student is required to sign a document stating that they have read and understand all policies outlined in the manual and that they agree the school district has the right to change the policies and punishments for infractions at any time. Students do not have the choice of whether or not to sign the agreement. If a student refuses to sign the agreement, the student is immediately sent to administration where one of the deans reads the entire manual to them again, after which the student is once again requested to sign the agreement. If the student still refuses to sign, he or she receives disciplinary action for insubordination and the parents or guardians are notified. I know this procedure first hand because I refused to sign the agreement this year, on the grounds that I questioned the legality of being forced to enter in a binding agreement that would be used against me if I were to break any of the district's policies. Minnesota State law reads that one must be 18 years of age to enter into a legal contract for the agreement to be legally binding. To the best of my knowledge almost all high school students in Minnesota have not yet reached the age of majority until their senior year. Why is it then that they are still subject to sign contracts that, if breached, allow them to be punished at the district's discretion? In addition to signing the school district's agreement, any student wishing to partake in extracurricular activities must also sign a Minnesota State High School League agreement, part of which states "Twelve (12) months of the year, a student shall not at any time, regardless of the quantity: (1) use or consume, have in possession a beverage containing alcohol; (2) use or consume, have in possession tobacco; or, (3) use or consume, have in possession, buy, sell, or give away any other controlled substance or drug paraphernalia."
Granted a student does not have to participate in extracurricular activities, and they are only subject to MSHSL bylaws if they voluntarily sign the agreement and wish to participate. However, the MSHSL's bylaws are vastly overbearing and are unrealistic for students to follow. What if the student consumes alcohol as part of a religious act such as Communion? Under MSHSL rules that student would be in violation as consumption or possession in any amount, at any time, is considered an infraction. There are countless situations where one would be in violation of the rules without actually performing an offense that bylaws aim to discourage. The desire of school districts and the MSHSL is to discourage underage binge drinking and drug use, but by mandating such vague and far reaching rules and by serving such harsh punishments, they have over stepped their purpose and authority. By suspending students from extracurricular activities, entities such as the MSHSL exclude students from the very activities that keep them out of trouble and in school. It is the responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure the well being of their children and to make them accountable for their actions. The course of punishment should be left in the discretion of the parents, not the district or the high school league, as they know what is best for their child. Much to the surprise of many people, teenagers make stupid decisions, we all do. The best thing we can do after making a bad decision is to accept the consequences and learn from our mistakes. The students from Eden Prairie High School who were found to be guilty of wrongdoing should face consequences. But, those consequences should not affect their future by tarnishing their reputations and putting scholarships and other opportunities in jeopardy. With their future athletic and academic opportunities now in limbo, what is keeping these kids from making more poor decisions? Shouldn't we give them a chance to demonstrate that they can learn from their mistakes and become responsible, productive members of our society? It boils down to giving them a second chance, something that everyone is entitled to once in awhile.

"Ok, I realize I am in the minority in today's society, but why is there to much tolerance for abusing alcohol?"

I couldn't agree with your statements more. Yes, apparently, it's 'the thing to do'. But when I was in high school 10 years ago, it didn't even cross my mind. I knew other kids drank, but I also knew what was at stake if I even took a sip. I took my education and my sports too seriously to take the risk of losing the opportunity. I can't say that I don't drink now, but I'm also very much the legal age.

I don't get it.

They should really go after the parent(s). The proof is in the pictures, there should be legal action against the parent's who allowed the kids to be drinking at their place.

Yes, kids have been drinking for generations. The differnce now is that they like to 'show off' their antics and display it for the world to see. The problem is not the administrators for discipling students according to MSHSL guidelines, but the students who think it is appropriate to run pictures on the internet and then cry foul when faced with the consequences for their choicdes.

It kind of scares me how dumb some of the kids and parents seem to be. And it offends me that some of the students and parents feel THEY were wronged. How could a parent defend his or her child's underage drinking??

Cut it out and climb down off of your high horse, Captain Buzzkill. You list all of the negative aspects of drinking. People do drink responsibly. Let's face it, drinking is fun. It loosens people up so they can tolerate being around a stick in the mud like you. Enjoy your Sprite while the rest of the non-Baptist 21st century gets BOOZED. I'll fire down an extra shot just for you this weekend. Kisses.

I'm not as worried about them voting......what about their driving!! Many of the teens that I know are drunk and out driving every Friday & Sat night!!!

Cut it out and climb down off of your high horse, Captain Buzzkill. You list all of the negative aspects of drinking. People do drink responsibly. Let's face it, drinking is fun. It loosens people up so they can tolerate being around a stick in the mud like you. Enjoy your Sprite while the rest of the non-Baptist 21st century gets BOOZED. I'll fire down an extra shot just for you this weekend. Kisses.

Seems to me this is all about an issue of "Read the fine print".

The code of standards that these students agreed to abide to by signing their names includes possession of alcohol and/or drugs. If they carefully read that document and kept a copy to review, they'd understand that.

Said possession may only have been mentioned once, but it was mentioned. These kids are going to learn soon enough the consequences of not reading and abiding by the fine print after they apply for their multiple credit cards and sign their personal electronic devices contracts. If this situation prevents just one student from avoiding massive credit card debt, I'm pleased.

If anything, the students should be working to change the fine print of the document that they sign. Now that's a lesson in enacting social change!

Actually the quote is "I do not think it means what you think it means." But absolutely! How can photos on the internet possibly be considered private? You'd think teenagers would know what the internet is.

While I think the posting of pictures is stupid it happens and I know for a fact that EP is not the only school in the state, let alone Lake Conference to have students suspended from athletics due to facebook pictures. One of my concerns is the reporting of the story, original articles said as many as 100 students were suspended from athletics and fine arts. It now turns out that 13 students were disciplined and only 42 even questioned. The original story is where the negative publicity came from whether you agree or not with what is happening.

On a side note, when I graduated in 2003 from a rival school of Eden Praries we could be suspended from athletics for simply being at a party that got busted, whether we were sober cabs or not. Also, simply stories of athletes drinking was grounds for suspension as well. My personal opinion is that if you are going to have pics of yourself its pretty incriminating and you are deserving of a suspension.

After all the stories I've heard from my 17-year-old about kids coming to first period class bombed and puking in front of their peers, I'd applaud this kind of policy in ALL public and private high schools. It sends a message early and often that alcohol (and drugs, too) won't be tolerated if you're a student. Now if parents would just do the same when their kids aren't on school property or at school events.

There is no proof that they are drinking, by the way if you are not in a sport the only punishment was a phone call home,but if you can get suspended for theat then couldnt you also be suspened at that family reunion because you took a picture with your cousin and your uncle is in the distance holding a beer?

I am a senior at EPHS and I think they should not be punished because how do you know what was in there? We all know there was alcohol but it wasn't like the party got busted the drinks could have anything in them, I have read some comments where people say its not the schools right to punish and the police should punish them (the people who said this thought the poice would lay down a harsher punishment) But they would have looked at them and be like what do you want me to do i wasn't there i cant prove drinking from pictures.

Interesting that you emphasize the legality of a contract that has nothing to do with the law. A legal contract uses the law to enforce its policies. The type of contracts used by this school and the sport league are not punishable by law, and therefore not legally binding. (If they were legal contracts, these students would be prevented by police officers from participating in their activities in the future).
This lack of the term "legal" does not make them any less effective. People of all ages can sign agreements and contracts before engaging in specific activities (attending school, participating in sports, starting a job, etc.). That is the case here, and the students have only themselves to blame for their stupid/illegal behavior and their ridiculous reactions.

Nothing has changed in the 20 years since I went to high school.

I had the same dilemma as to whether or not to sign the MNSHL agreement. I refused to sign the agreement and was not able to participate in CHOIR CONCERTS!!!

Let me tell you a few reasons why I did not sign the agreement:

1. I knew I liked to party...and I sure did party.

2. All of my friends were cigarette smokers. Since they were cigarette smokers, I would meet them everyday at the SCHOOL APPROVED SMOKING AREA ON CAMPUS. I could be kicked out of choir just for standing next to them on school grounds if we were "at the smoker" together!

3. I figured it was just a matter of time before I got caught at the smoker with friends or partying, so why bother agreeing to do something I knew I could not do?

Since choir was "my sport" this was a hard decision to make. But I could not sign that agreement. That was my choice and to this day I am glad I made it.

Whomever signed the MNSHL agreement deserves to be punished according to the agreement. If your parents signed it with you, then they knew what you were getting into and it is a binding agreement.

Quit posting your parties on Facebook, MySpace, etc. Anyone can look at these sites and they will come back to haunt you.

Don't try to give me the crap that you were "just holding a cup" or that "this glass just had kool-aid in it" or "we just set it up to look like we were drinking but weren't" or even my favorite one "that picture is 3 years old." Whatever, you were caught and instead of owning up to your mistake you try to blame someone else for "turning you in" or "you can't prove what is in that cup."

Don't try to act like a grown up if you do not want to face the grown up consequences. Kids make mistakes. Adults make mistakes. Own up to it, fix it if you can, then resolve to not do it again in the future and move on. Quit blaming others for your own stupidity.

Personally, I'm sick of hearing about this. Being a student at EPHS and a friend to some of the people involved in this, they clearly know they made mistakes. They will suffer the consequences for the choices they made and hopefully have a better understanding of the power of modern technology... and it's lack of privacy. That being said, let's keep calling all these students dumb for doing EXACTLY WHAT ALL OF YOU WERE DOING IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I agree that the school clearly couldn't ignore these pictures when presented to them. However, I also believe that this has been taken too far in the aspect of how big this has all gotten. Instead of wasting your time bashing people you don't even know on the internet, how about you talk with your kids about not being "dumb, really dumb, and godsmackingly dumb" like all of the students at EPHS are! Better yet, how about you start acting like the mature adults you seem to think you are. You were once in high school and know its pressures...

To those who are so afraid of this generation being the future, I plan on voting in the next election - god forbid - and plan on going to college next year so I can work my ass off to take care of some of the seemingly ungrateful people in this blog.

The school did not go trolling around facebook for these photos. The school was sent a CD of these photos anonymously. (A detail the media so conveniently forgets to mention)

Because the school was informed they were legally obligated to investigate. I believe the school is doing the best they can under the circumstances. They can't be negligent and let it get swept under the rug because they supposedly can't prove anything. I think we'd be even more angry if someone found out the school ignored these accusations. We'd all be blaming them for protecting their precious athletes.

I'm an EP student and I'm insulted by everyone calling us dumb when only 13 of our 3000 student population was punished for this. (We're not a school full of Danny O'Learys)

I attend EPHS as a senior. You have to sign in order to attend.

The administration is not to blame. Yes, the punishment does not fit the crime, but it was in violation. I personally know everyone who was punished for this and its unfortunate. But this needs to stop being put on the school because they didnt go looking for this, it was sent to them. As of now, me and the student body are trying to step up take responsibility and salvage whats left of our reputation. We're trying to move on from all of this.

Finally, someone i can totally agree with (Personally, Im sick of...). Thank you for thinking deep and hard about the situation. Teens are not dumb, I will proudly take that to my grave. I would more like to say our frontal lobe is not fully developed so we make some bad mistakes (like people of any age) and in the heat of the moment we do not think things through whether that be excited about showing your friends the good time you had some weekend or something we did not mean to say to somebody and wish we could take it back. There are around 3300 kids at EPHS. 13 out of those 3300 were suspended from sports for different amounts of time for pictures that might have been taken 2 weeks ago or 2 years, I am not sure because there are many rumors going around from everyone, everywhere, and any age. These kids are not what our school and teenagers are all about. Not saying the kids involved in those pictures are bad examples of teenagers or people. I do not know them personally and I feel I cannot judge them only based on one scandal. There are many things that some people maybe do not appreciate enough about us. I do not want to be tooting our own horn, but dang! there are tons and tons of teenagers in EPHS and MN that are doing way more productive and helpful for the community and world that many other people are not taking note of. The athletes are getting punished and I feel like they are dealing with it quite well keeping their feelings and opinions away from the Facebook groups or other community websites. They will come out better in the end not getting too fed up about it.
I know kids who do drink and do get "wasted." But most all the kids I know are not drinking and then getting behind the wheel. Our school has done a good job with advertising many different ways of avoiding getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. I agree that their are different ways of dealing with the situation. Telling that teenagers are stupid and so is EPHS is not a good one but talking about it to whomever about smart decisions and thinking things through is a good one.

13 students from Eden Prairie High School made a mistake. 13 Students were punished. 13 out of 3,500. Wow, Im TERRIFIED those 13 kids can vote.

The media ASSUMED plenty and got most of their "facts" from gossip. Get YOUR facts straight before you make assumptions about present generation teenagers. We're actually not as stupid as you ASSUME.

I am sure all these applications were made for the purpose of invading someones home. Such stupid statements are proof you have no idea what your talking about. "computer scientis" Whatever.

yes of course, these applications forced kids to act stupid.

From a real person in the IT field.

First, let me say that this whole situation has been blown way out of proportion due the ammount of publicity and speculation surrounding the event. As a recent graduate of the school, it is entirely embarrassing to have this one incident being representative of the High School at which I recieved such a great education, which was much better than many of my college peers. Reading comments from people who do not even understand the situation is rather frusterating. To make it clear, the administration DID NOT go looking for photos. They were presented from an anonymous outside source and the administration investigated it, as was completely within their rights. This is not a first amendment issue.
Also, its been established- kids drink. Its a fact. Drinking is a bad choice. Putting the pictures up on a social networking cite is also very bad choice. However, just because people make bad choices does not make them dumb. That makes them careless. Teenagers brains simply aren't fully grown, and its easy for adults to forget that. Thus, I find it 'dumb' for anyone to be whining about these kids becasue they can vote in a few months. What is really 'dumb' is for adults to be deeming teenagers as dumb for the bad choices they make. EVERYONE makes bad choices. And when you look back at the really bad choices made throughout history, its adults that are making them. Which is why this issue is should not even be an issue. Drinking and careless exposing of one's self via the internet--its nothing we haven't already heard about.

Best reply yet...

Thanks for your honesty.

When I was in school(a long time ago) we were taught that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.

A photo of someone holding what looks like an alcoholic beverage is not enough evidence to convict in court unless the photographer or other witnesses can testify and be believed.

I personally do not drink, but I have attended parties where others do drink. I have found that by emptying a beer can and filling the can with water, I can 'fit in' and people will not keep handing me a beer or drink.

So, if my photo was taken and posted, do you think any policeman would arrest me for DUI? Does anyone think the police would try to prosecute ADULTS for being in a photo holding a beer can or drink glass?

Why does this society tolerate treating kids in a way that would be clearly unlawful and a violation of rights if those people were adults?

We know that kids learn right and wrong from the example set by adults. So should we adults be violating the legal rights of kids who will soon be legal adults?

These kids have been charged, found guilty, and sentenced by A school administrator without trial, and without being able to confront the evidence in an open court setting.

If we don't follow the rule of law, we become lawless and the current generation of kids are learning that they are being treated in a lawless way.

If a person cannot expect the be treated according to the law, why should they follow the law?

I was called down for being a picture where martini glasses were visible. I don't play any school sports but yet i was still interrogated by this? A) If I never signed something saying i wouldn't drink, why the hell do they care what i do? B) It's none of there business what im doing on my own time, leave it up to my parents. C) they're now trying to figure out where the pictures are taken to get the parents in trouble for allowing underage drinking at their house. Do all of you really think that these punishments are fair?? let me make a point. A student who attends EPHS got a DWI. suspended from the sport she plays for 2 weeks, or two games. A friend of mine who was seen in PICTURES lost her captainship and was suspended for 10 out of the 12 games. If anyone can tell me thats fair, i'd love to talk to you. From a picture, you cannot prove anything. I'm sure that if I went on and looked at Minnetonka and Edina highschools I could easily find pictures of all them, our school is just the one thats willing to take their time to actually go on peoples facebooks and look what their doing in their own time. Getting in trouble for pictures from your dads wedding or spring break in a picture with your mom is easily the creepiest thing ever on the schools part. half of you on this website don't even know the true stories about what is happening and act like the punishments are legit, it bothers. if they're going to suspend these 13 students from sports or national honor society, they truely might as well suspend 75% of every highschool in the country. Our school now has a bad name because of this, yet every other highschool is doing the same thing, if not, worse.

I believe that the school administrators were wise in their actions. The photos were brought to their attention, and they had to react one way or the other. Student athletes sign a contract prior to participation regarding alcohol/substance use, and there was evidence that the contract was violated. At least students and adults alike across the nation are given a good view at the consequences that can result from posting anything innappropriate online. They can consider themselves lucky that the cost of the photos was a couple of high school games - and not a future job or career someday. Employers DO look online to research applicants, and many an applicant has lost an opportunity due to a Facebook or Myspace page. I guess this is just me on my soapbox, but may this be a lesson of accountability!