2 Parents (Mothers) Accused of Buying Hazing Beer

The Associated Press ^ | 5/21/03 | Megan Reichgott

[LdSentinal]

SKOKIE, Ill. - Two parents were charged Wednesday with supplying alcohol to students at a suburban Chicago high school who participated in a brutal hazing incident captured on videotape.

Christine Neal, 49, was charged with delivery of alcohol to a minor for buying three kegs of beer, two of which were found at the park where the hazing took place, prosecutors said. Marcy Spiwak, 49, was charged with allowing her home to be used for underaged drinking.

Neal is the mother of student Dominic Vargas, 18, who was charged with unlawful possession of alcohol by a minor. Authorities said Vargas brought the kegs to the May 4 "powder puff" event where junior girls were brutally hazed by seniors.

"The violence that we all saw on the tapes from the melee at Chipilly Woods was fueled by alcohol," Cook County State's Attorney Richard Devine said. "The adults who bought this liquor or hosted a party where beer was consumed will be held accountable."

Videotape of the event shows juniors from Glenbrook North High School being covered with mud, paint, feces and garbage as onlookers, some hoisting beer cups, cheered.

Neal, who was arrested Tuesday, and Vargas were released on $100 bond each. An arrest warrant had been issued for Spiwak, who is the mother of a junior girl who was at the hazing. All charges carry a maximum punishment of a year in jail; the adults also face fines of at least $500.

Vargas was among the 15 students who last week were charged with misdemeanor battery in the incident in suburban Northbrook. Some 31 students — all but three of them girls — have received 10-day suspensions.

Several students have filed lawsuits appealing their suspensions. The students, their parents and attorneys also will be able to pursue appeals through school hearings scheduled Thursday and Friday.

Some juniors who were hazing victims also have been suspended from the prom and other extracurricular activities and could face further punishment. School officials would not say how many were disciplined.

The school board will meet Sunday to decide whether to expel seniors suspended after the hazing, while students consider a deal offered by the district under which they could graduate on time.

Students still would be expelled and barred from the graduation ceremony, but the school would freeze their grades at their previous levels instead of automatically flunking them.

[LdSentinal]

What's with with these baby-boomer parents? I don't want to offend the entire generation and the great parents out there, but a lot of these parents' behavior seem to be reckless.

I remember going to the theatre in 1999 to watch the South Park movie. Much to my surprise there were many 4-8 year old kids there with their parents.

[MEG33]

I can't imagine buying alcohol for high schoolers!

[cherry]

"What's with with these baby-boomer parents? I don't want to offend the entire generation and the great parents out there, but a lot of these parents' behavior seem to be reckless"

I personally believe that my generation is the worse one ever to live on this earth...

as a group we are spoiled, undisciplined, value-less, God-less, impulsive, needy, and whiny, let alone rather stupid and adolescent in our thinking...

not me , mind you, but the rest of them...lol

[Sonny M]

Personally, If I had kids who were 18, and these idiots mosttly don't apply, I'd let them have beer, if they can drive, if they can vote, if they can die for there country, there is no way in hell, I'd tell them, they don't have the right to have a alcoholic beverage.

[RJayneJ]

Quote of the Day by Teetop

[ppaul]

Personally, If I had kids who were 18, and these idiots mosttly don't apply, I'd let them have beer, if they can drive, if they can vote, if they can die for there country, there is no way in hell, I'd tell them, they don't have the right to have a alcoholic beverage.

I'll bet you do not have children.

[Catspaw]

Do us all a favor--don't have children.

[mewzilla]

Mancow said on FOX yesterday morning that some of the well-heeled parents of some of these little darlings have sent their thuggish daughters off on a cruise until the heat's off. Interesting disciplinary technique.

[carbine]

Your right, and if you think about it it wasn't that long ago that the drinking age was 18. And yes I do have 2 children. And only recently was it changed in Canada fron 18 to 21.

[Loyalist]

And only recently was it changed in Canada fron 18 to 21.

No. It's still 18 in Quebec and 19 everywhere else in Canada.

[Sonny M]

If you got a problem with it, well, thats YOUR problem.

[Sonny M]

No, but I have 4 friends in Iraq right now, who are under 21, and when they get back, the law says they can't drink, not that they can drink over there either, but hey, they can die in a war, just make sure they don't have any Coors.

[Sonny M]

By the way, do me a favor, when the guys that are under 21 come back from Iraq, tell them they don't deserve the right to drink, but your happy they are second class citizens.

[Catspaw]

Snotty post, Sonny M, but yes, I would tell them not to have a beer unless they could do it legally.

[AppyPappy]

Change the law.

[2Jedismom]

These women are only a few years older than I am. I am not in the least bit surprised at their behavior. I graduated with a whole class of people like this.

One (of the many) reasons I homeschool is because I know how the parents in my age group behaved. My high school annual is full of pictures of half naked cheerleaders and football players staggering drunk on school trips.

When I left my home town, I shook the dust off and never went back. It was a cesspool.

[WatchOutForSnakes]

One major difference. The other three things you listed are all legal. Or do you just advocate obeying the laws that you agree with? Should we all do that?

[george wythe]

My family lived overseas for several years, and I had access to alcohol during my childhood while being supervised by adults.

No big deal, I seldom drink now.

I have no "forbidden-fruit" desire for alcohol, since I learned a healthy attitude toward drinking while growing up.

[Sonny M]

I believe in following the laws, but I hate the hypocracy of this law against underage drinking. I see it as stupid that these guys can serve overseas in war, can get married, can vote, and in some places, be elected (New Paltz in NYS just elected a college kid mayor), they can drive, and in many places, own firearms, but they can not drink.

I'm going to be doing a welcome home party for my friends, we're not sure if it'll be august or july, since they keep shifting there dates around, and I will be more then glad to break the law here, and gives these guys drinks, I'll be happy there back and alive,however under the law, I should give them soda, and only allow those over 21 to drink.

[Sonny M]

I don't see it as a forbidden fruit type thing, I just don't agree that its right to restrict a group of people to 2nd class citizens when they can die for your country, years ago, they used to give exemptions for military personal in regards to the drinking law, MADD put a stop to even that.