A LOSS THAT STILL HAUNTS RANDOLPH

Star Ledger

[Positive]

"The stupid thing done here was setting high schoolers curfew at 2 AM in the morning!!!!"

Plus there is a 5 hour time difference between NJ and HI. As far as these kids' bodies were concerned that would be 7 AM.

[Positive]

"only if you're a braindead nimrod..."

I only took the time to look up "nimrod" in the dictionary recently. Before that I thought your use would be in proper context.

Actually the word means "a hunter."

[Poohbah]

It's the necro-troll!

[Dont Mention the War]

"I stood there on that balcony and tried to imagine being intoxicated, tired and looking down on the top of palm trees," Manoukian said. "And I wondered if maybe she thought she would step over the balcony and onto the grass and take a shortcut home."

*snicker*

[Dont Mention the War]

Has no one here ever drank too much when they were young?

Sure. But I didn't do it and then walk off a balcony. Neither did any of the rest of us posting here now. Survival of the fittest, I guess.

[Poohbah]

To quote Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle: "Think of it as evolution in action."

[Dont Mention the War]

"You shouldn't have to write a memorial for your 18-year-old friend," said Elyse Nashmy, who attended the service and later helped comfort the Crossansat their home.

Hmmm ... I can have pity on an 18-year-old drunken cheerleader who partied herself to death, or the 18-year-old soldiers coming home injured or dead after fighting for their country and for freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pardon me if I choose the latter.

[elfman2]

"Those boys are guilty as well."

Of what. She was a legal adult.

[Dont Mention the War]

I hate to say bad things about people, but from what I hear, this girl thought a lot more of herself than anyone else did. I went to Randolph High and can attest to the miserable existence that some students inflict on others. All the horror stories you hear about rich cliquey high schools are true at Randolph. Most notably, there has always been a group of not-so-bright but good-looking atheletes who party hard and think very highly of themselves. Somehow they designate themselves as popular, but the rest of the 300 students pretty much just laugh at them, aware that in most cases (and painfully true in Lauren's case), these kids are at the peak of their lives. They all go to third-rate colleges, or to County College, and end up pumping their classmates' gas (it is NJ), or serving their drinks within a few years. She's several years behind me, so I never knew Lauren, but from what I hear she was not very nice to her fellow students. There are news crews and grief counselors all over the school, but nobody is that torn up about it, except for the cheerleaders. AND, nobody is at all surprised about the NAKED part. Most kids at Randolph have too much money thrown at them, too little to do, and no responsibility. This girl was described by Principle Martone as an average student, and even he said, "but grades aren't that important." People used to move to Randolph for the school system, but in the last 15 or so years it's really declined. Academic excellence isn't as emphasized as is it used to be, and "jocks" have always more or less been excused from any serious cerebral activity ..... but I digress ....

102 posted on 01/16/2004 6:47:46 PM EST by Truth'sBabyGirl (RHS class of 99)

[elfman2]

" I can testify that the girl who tragically fell to her death would'nt have stayed in the safe hotel room, unless the chaperone chained her to the bed.(Ropes- no good- the girl would've bitten thru them eventually.) "

I agree. As another poster said, she’s old enough to go to Iraq.

[elfman2]

Thanks for the other side of the story.

[Lancey Howard]

Sadler said she gave them "the typical parent lecture: Stay together. Don't leave the hotel grounds. Don't do anything stupid." She set their curfew at 2 a.m., and they promised not to be late.

The girls met up with the local boys, and the group went to a liquor store for vodka, cranberry juice and a 40-ounce bottle of a premium malt liquor.

At the time of her death, Lauren's blood alcohol level was 0.17 percent

That is stone, staggering, sloppy drunk, especially for a teenage girl.

This was a freak tragedy, caused mainly by the stupid things that teenagers (who naturally think they are immortal) do all the time. A real shame.

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks for the link. That other thread is an eye-opener.

[PLMerite]

The parents should never have allowed only one adult to make that trip. One person with four teenagers, two of them her own...she was outnumbered and outgunned.

[texasreb]

What the heck is this "she was going to have a chaperon." She was 18. I was in basic trainning 5 days after I turned 17. I was by no means the only one like that. Least we forget her B/A level was 0.17, which is at least twice the legal limit when driving, in most places. Really a sad story. A supposed to be happy vacation and how many people's life's messed up for the rest of their life. Sad, Sad, Sad. I hope they seek the Lord and find some peace and relief. Of course they already have, I hope. God Bless, KennyBob

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

Did you have a 2 a.m. curfew when you were in basic? Or were you just about ready to get up at that time? ;-)

It's interesting to me how our perceptions of inebriation have been colored by "legal limits". A BAC of .17 is not a dangerous thing per se. You would be fairly tipsy, but not physically in peril... unless, of course, you're driving (or on an upper floor hotel balcony).

[Almondjoy]

Of all the hateful things I've read on this thread there is really only one reasonable conclusion.

Millions of teenagers drink.. this happened because of terrible circumstances that came together to take the life of a girl.

It's an accident.. she didn't deserve it because she drank and there is no one here to blame except for herself.

People die from climbing mountains and sky diving. Sometimes mistakes are made.. usually by the person doing the climbing or jumping.

To try any other conclusions from this article is insenstive at the least and extremely hateful at worst.

[Almondjoy]

Uh the "kids" were 18.

Last I checked that is legal age to do whatever you feel like without getting someone above you(like a parent) held responsible.

They had no responsbility to someone 18 or over.

[OldFriend]

Thanks for the first sensible comments on this tragedy.

Guess you're right and all the rest have been in a convent or their children are perfect, never drink, stay out past their curfew or do anything tht could remotely be considered foolish.