Well, I could be wrong, but I believe, uh, wumbo is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

this is so true unbelievable chatham patch

wheres the like button?

no..they are just afraid of the truth because it will make the town look bad. So they cover everything up..or in this case make false accusations that seniors were hazing so they dont have to put on the record that the student body is in trouble for drinking on school grounds. grow a pair, chatham.

hugh- they shouldnt be concerned with reputations. maybe if they didnt sweep things under the rug they could address the issue head on and give kids consequences for their actions. maybe then kids would think before they act. whats more important ..artificial appearances or childrens well-being?

Thanks for deleting my comment about being a free lance writer for you guys, Patch. I was serious about the offer. Whatever, if you don't want a big celebrity exposing hard hitting news for you guys, that's your problem. Stay mediocre.

You really did not get why everyone was commenting on this.

You seem to think you know a lot about what happened so lets say for a second you really are a teenager attending the CHS. Are you kidding me? what are you trying to act twice(thrice...?) your age? is that cool now? if you were at the assemblies today you can not actually believe anyone learned any real 'lessons' from Friday night... and serious question, why should they?
apart from people around here making it out to one of the worst crimes a youth can commit what is wrong with underage drinking and bit of hazing? Aside from the obvious, and unfortunate cases were the two can be taken too far, i beg you to give me one good reason. And sure, three or four individuals may have taken the drinking too far but hey, you live you learn. would you rather have these kids learn how much they can drink in college?
This trend of letting a couple outlying incidents serve as a basis to form new laws and rules is starting to get to me. No matter how much (or little) slack you grant a group of people, eventually someone will come through and exceed it, and to allow that to change anything for everyone else is a shame.

I am acting as myself, and just commenting with my beliefs. Your attack is cute, though. And my reasons are that some people took it too far. I'm not saying hazing or underage drinking should get you the death penalty. The people that messed up should learn a lesson because a few them ended up in the hospital, while everyone acted like idiots, causing everyone to lose open campus for two weeks. And no, I wouldn't rather that. I'd rather people do it slowly, and the right way. Not implying that you should wait till you're 21, and certainly not implying that new laws should be made. Your entire comment is as if though I'm trying to be spiteful towards everyone. I'm just being honest

“I am acting as myself, and just commenting with my beliefs. Your attack is cute, though.”
-See right there at the end I can tell your really a teenager. You try to act to high and mighty and all knowing in your argument but cannot help but drop down for that one cheap shot at the end. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
“And my reasons are that some people took it too far. “
-OK. So What? Some people took it too far. I going to assume you mean the four people who got taken away to the hospital. They did take it too far. But I should not be punished, or yelled at in an assembly, or have next year’s pep rally threatened to be taken from me, or have my open campus taken from me just because four teens took it too far. If this is a reason as to my huge, in-your-face question as to why teens should not drink and haze, I think it was the only one I said you should not use. Just because those four took it too far should not mean that I can’t drink at all.
“I'm not saying hazing or underage drinking should get you the death penalty.”
-Oh. Ok. Me neither!
“The people that messed up should learn a lesson because a few them ended up in the hospital,”
-Well the four who ended up in the hospital should learn a lesson, I guess. But what lesson will they learn? ‘Don’t drink too much.’ Unfortunately, because they will not remember how much they drank they will not know how much they must not exceed.

“while everyone acted like idiots, causing everyone to lose open campus for two weeks.”
-EVERYONE did not act like idiots. Maybe a few INDIVIDUALS did but I don’t think there was anything nearly as bad as the school admins are making it out to be. By all means, it was just a lil’ bit worse than last years.

“And no, I wouldn't rather that.” (…?) “I'd rather people do it slowly, and the right way. Not implying that you should wait till you're 21, and certainly not implying that new laws should be made.
-Well I think I stand behind every single underage drinker at the CHS when I agree that it would be nice if everyone drank the right amount and no one ever broke those limits… but when you only drink once or twice a week and its always with your friends (whom your probably trying to impress) and you never know exactly how much you can drink because there are so many types of alcohol and you have only been drinking x number of times and roughly 90% of those times you do not remember exactly how much you drank then it can be kind of hard to get it right. Now it would also be nice if everyone drank slowly. BUT, a shot of liquor takes roughly 20 minutes to sink in (and that’s if you have not just eaten dinner) and you want every student to wait 20 minutes after every shot… (it’s going to take a long time to get sufficiently intoxicated). I am also not implying that any new law should be made, just that many existing ones have been made because a couple people did something and the law, in turn, ruined it for the people who weren’t doing it as bad but now can’t do it at all.
“Your entire comment is as if though I'm trying to be spiteful towards everyone. I'm just being honest”
-Oh I believe your being honest. I just don’t like you.

This argument is just a repeat of the one I had with Taylor Swift. Minus the fact that you think that I think seniors should all be punished. Hell no, they shouldn't be yelled at for the drinking. Maybe scolded for acting like 13 year olds figuring what the word **** means. I think the underclassmen should have gotten the yelling. Love you

The reason people can't handle themselves is because the drinking age is so high. My parents have never told me I can't drink. They know that by giving their kid the freedom to drink, he or she will know his or her limit and be able to enjoy himself or herself without getting completely wasted. If you want people to be able to handle themselves, maybe you should go ask the government to lower the drinking age like in Europe so that people can learn not to binge drink so often.

'The reason people can't handle themselves is because the drinking age is so high.' I find this point invalid. The reason people can't handle themselves is because they drink too much. And when you're drink, you have the illusion that you can conquer anything, even that second water bottle full of vodka you had your friends sneak over. Honestly, pace yourself if you're gonna drink. If you're gonna be a fool, at least be a smart fool

Excuse me but I'm pretty sure that's exactly what I was saying. Perhaps next time you shouldn't be so quick to dismiss a comment based on the very first line? The only way anyone will learn to pace themselves is if they're taught that it is okay to drink and that they won't get into trouble for it. If we just teach everyone under the age of 21 that they're not allowed to have a single drop of alcohol, kids will scurry for that
"second water bottle full of vodka [they] had their friends sneak over" and drink every last drop, not knowing when they'll be able to drink again. "StereotypicalTeenager", huh? Wouldn't that mean you're spending your weekends doing the same exact thing you're criticizing everyone else at this school for doing? Maybe you should change your username if you are so high above us.

My argument was based on your entire argument. And I don't think I'm high above anyone. In fact, we're all on the same level of disgust as anyone else, that's my unreasonably cynical opinion for you. The username is irrelevant, ironic humor. Though, I do the same thing as any other kid, I know not to let myself go in these situations. Yes, I've had my moments where a bathroom made a perfectly comfortable bed, but I learn as life goes on. I'm not trying to be political about this, either. Sure, it could help, but I'm never focused on whether drinking is bad, or good. Honestly, who is? I'm more focused on my enjoyment for that night. Let's just dismiss whatever laws are out there. Say we're in a room, no one can touch us there. We have a couple drinks, you start getting that dizzy feeling and wonder if you should go on? Wouldn't it be best to just clear your mind for a moment, take a few breaths, and understand if you can handle more, or not? Personally, this sort of thinking helps me, and everyone should have their own way of coming back to reality so that they don't slip up and end up in the hospital

And that argument was well made. I completely agree. I personally think people need to pace themselves. I think we both may have misunderstood each other. You're saying people need to learn to control their drinking, I'm saying one way to do this is by adjusting the laws. I think it's really the way these comments are being written that's making people, myself included, be so quick to argue and feel hostile.

Of course. I'm not attacking anyone in this situation. I'm not specifically blaming seniors for anything, nor am I on the government's side. I'm only trying to seem reasonable and coherent. I'm glad we came to an understanding, though. The youngins just need to learn that bad things happen when too much alcohol is consumed, and though I may have gone through this(not in the same severity), I do try to help others so they don't have to go through it as well. As for what you think would help, you can go ahead and think that. I'm not too sure if it's true, but I know that controlling yourself is much simpler than a lot of people make it seem

Self-control is an animalistic behavior that was adapted overtime. It is evolutionary. Some people, like yourself, as you seem to be suggesting, have adapted this trait more than others. So, while it may be "much simpler than a lot of people make it seem" in your opinion, well that's just it; it's an opinion. For other people, self-control is hard. It's something that is less innate for them and more of something that one learns over time.

You make a good point, and I did not post that last bit without thinking of that. I just believe, that you can be conscious of what you are doing, and use that to your advantage. Tell yourself when enough is enough. I don't know it's something I can't really explain without sounding foolish

so basically anything that attempts to challenge the article.

That's some pretty quick drinking "during" the 8PM pep rally, for the kids to be drunk and needing EMTs at 8:02PM. Now, figure out where the kids were before they arrived at the pep rally impaired.

Hugh Topian - maybe there's a reason why the kids arrived so inebriated that night that the EMTs had to come. If you look at the statistics for binge drinking in Europe vs. the United States, you'll see a huge difference between the numbers that can be directly correlated to the legal drinking ages. Also, the difference is due to the fact that adults in Europe allow their children to drink at home so that they can find out just how much alcohol they can handle without becoming a nuisance to society or dying of alcohol poisoning. Maybe the problem still exists there, but it's a lot more subtle. So, how can you say that the kids need to learn to take responsibility when the adults and government ultimately need to realize they do play a part in the whole underage drinking problem as well. Okay, we need to grow up and learn to deal with our actions but shouldn't all of you adults be looking for ways to solve or at lease ease the situation?

@Hugh Topian
there is no illegitimate way that anyone can find out where students were that night. If there were no photos taken, or no parents home, you must rely on the word of the student body. (Which is obviously not valued judging by this article)
Also, there is no way to now tell who was drinking that night other than those four people. Yes, while it is * blatantly* obvious that there were many people who were intoxicated, all ideas that the staff has are just theories now. With the alcohol out of the students system, the whole " I saw you drunk" allegations are completely off the table now that there is no concrete evidence. And no, sir I am not a person who is trying to get the teens out of their punishments or something like that. I am responding solely to your comment about the "finding out where the kids were before they arrived" being completely, and utterly, unable to be accomplished. Thus, making your comment ignorant and un-achievable.

Going off of what Mr. Hugh Topain said, how would the seniors have anything to do with the drinking BEFORE that caused mostly underclassmen to be lifted out on stretchers? They were minding their own business at the J Lot, not forcing underclassmen to chug vodka to the point where they spew all over the main office. The fact that the administration is trying to blame this on "not obeying pep rally policies" is hands down bull. Never once did I read or sign a "Pep Rally Agreement" that stated that I would not jump around and shout 2012 and be unified with my grade.

RIP Chatham Patch 2011, free-speech is not allowed. Censorship is though.

a few teachers, who have been turning a blind eye if they think that this has not happened in previous years.

There's always school staff keeping an eye on the situation. What the senior class is so frustrated about is that the accusations made against the class that took away our senior campus for two weeks, is that we were hazing the underclassmen. Yes, the majority of the class was most likely intoxicated. Did we "haze" the underclass any more than any of the seniors before us at previous pep rallies? No.

@Taylor... "the majority of the class was most likely intoxicated"
That implies that the majority of the class was also driving under the influence.
Just saying.

@Concerned

The majority of the class also lives close enough to the school to walk. There is no proof that those who were inebriated drove to the J lot that night. Therefore, I object as your argument is invalid due to the lack of evidence.

@concerned Everyone actually walks to the pep rally, the seniors walked from the junior lot and whoever was driving were on sports teams and had early games so they were sober, so your comment is false. We may drink underage, but we have always been good with designated drivers.

it was a reference. no one said this was europe so i believe your comment is irrelevent.

Thank you

Reality check. Welcome to the USA where the legal drinking age is the highest in any country yet high schoolers "still claim that alcohol is 'fairly easy' or 'very easy' to obtain". Also the country whose obscenely high drinking age has directly caused many negative side effects, including alcohol induced death. No, this is not correlation. The facts are: this is causality.

Also, reality check: you're attempting to give a reality check to one of the kids who was sober for the entirety of that notorious Friday night. A kid whose parents let her drink at the dinner table or at their parties at home or when visiting another country. A kids whose parents have instilled trust in her and apparently this has not backfired. Yes, I drink but have I ever been drunk to the point that I was vomiting, blacked out, or forgotten a single detail of an event? Don't act "concerned" if you obviously don't want to find a solution because "this is America and this is how we run things. We won't ever change because we are the best nation in this world in every single aspect". Go USA.

http://ssdp.org/campaigns/lowering-drinking-age

That's where I got the quote from. Forgot to cite it. Whoops.

@Taylor, I was not implying that you were drinking... My point is that the legal drinking age of 21 is not about instilling trust in our children. It's about the scientific fact that drinking alcohol can damage the teenage brain. And that concerns me.

@Concerned
The facts are, this isn't some science experience with only two variables. This situation holds many - hundreds - of variables. Okay, drinking can lead to brain damage in teenagers. Does it always? No. There are many factors that affect this. Can you look at other countries and honestly tell me that since the drinking age is not 21, the teenagers there grow up to have more brain damage? Where's the evidence to that? I would need to see multiple citations explaining in detail how drinking as a teenager is causality for brain damage. Still, I would know that there are just as many experiments saying that this is merely correlation which people mistake for conventional knowledge/causality.

concerned... your child will be able to go to war three years before he or she can legally drink. there are much more concerning things there #realitycheck

haha okay see this is why the adults think we're so immature...just saying

yesssssss.

GW. 5. really? Grow up.

@concerned- i would like to take this time to reference chiddy bang "tell mommy im sorry this life is a party and i'm never growing up".

this is hilarious. the problem is they see this and get "concerned" (such an amusing username)... so is it worth it to say stuff like this on sites where adults will be judging? probably not, but go for it anyways.... #Ohwell

^^agreed

you lost your open campus for two weeks... as of now the juniors won't have a pep rally next year. i'm pretty sure they punished ALL the upperclassmen. and i am not at all for the administration taking action. They punishing hundreds because four kids went to the hospital and the seniors were "hazing"

it's not a crime if no one catches you.... oh wait

That last part was largely unnecessary

Unfortunately, abolition was tried and it failed. You can only take the argument of protecting people's lives so far before you infringe on the liberties of the righteous.

do not generalize all teens in this town and say we all feel entitled and think the law doesnt apply to us. that may be true for some but certainly not all. and this story is NOTHING NEW. you are only hearing about this one because it happened on school property and this lovely town couldnt censor it this time. Drunk kids getting arrested or goign to the hospital ..it happens A WHOLE lot more than you realize.

'Let's just ignore any valid points made throughout this article. Maybe reality can go away, and we can feel better about ourselves as parents by implying that all teenagers are just reckless drinkers'

@StereotypicalTeenager
Thank you for perfectly summarizing these comments.

Thank you for being someone else to point that last comment out

And while you were reading, all the rest of us were having a wonderful time with vodka and 8-balls.

Yeah, well…that’s just like, your opinion, man.

i dont think anyone who is too young to hear this discussion is going to read 119 comments to get to what i have to say down here but i guess you censor everything
#everydayimcesoring

whats done is done

...Just a small town girl

liek u wurnt thurr man da sr.'s was goodly-like and stuffs,

lolololololololol umadbro?

Joe,
It's okay calm your nips son. TAXATION TAXATION TAXATION TAXATION. But really, stop whining.

B.Rock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv1nUwjS1jw

Livin young and wild and free

It's all about the parents taking responsibility for their little hellions. Step up to the plate or don't comment.

What is the point of your inane post? Is there a point? I will comment when I feel like it and not ask your permission first. I believe the principal acted appropriately. You don't need to agree with that assessment. And yes, I do have kids at the HS, but why should that matter?

be nice, please. its for the children man for the children

ohai broosie, I fiendzes ur c@mment ve~~reey brainy-like. kep up dar gut vorkmon.

that's because you're harvey dent. you're the hero we all need bro

well said Captain, yo# are terly a genetalman and a scHolar

Yeah, well that's just like, your opinion, man.

SOMEBODY HAS TO THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN! THE CHILDREN!