Erin Cox, an honor student at North Andover High near Boston, had to give up her captain position a couple of weeks ago for trying to pick her friend up; a friend who was too drunk to drive. Cox went to the party to pick up her friend according to CNN, but shortly after she got to the place the police arrived and arrested dozens of kids and warned 15 others, including Cox. The police wrote that Cox wasn’t drinking in a statement, but her school, having zero-tolerance for alcohol and drug use, charged that she violated their policies.
North Andover High made Cox give up her position as captain of her volleyball team, and she was suspended for 5 games, according to CNN. All for doing the right thing, and for being a good friend, as well as a great citizen. What kind of school system would allow themselves to suspend and take away the captain position of a teen that only wanted to save a life? They should be thankful that Erin Cox was actually trying to help a friend out. If it wasn’t for her, papers would be writing about yet, ANOTHER drunk driver and its devastating tragedies. They should call this girl a hero! She is the product of those campaigns, those signs that say “Don’t Drink and Drive, Save a Life.” She did not consume any alcohol, she just had bad luck that the police were there and she was caught; caught trying to take a friend home safe.
Cox and her family, with all the rights in the world, plan to file a formal action against the school and its system, “in the hope that officials there will think twice before imposing sanctions on any student whose only offense involves trying to prevent yet another drunk-driving tragedy,” Wendy Murphy, Cox’s attorney, said in a statement to CNN. They have every right to sue the school district; they teach kids to be cautious and to help a friend in need. Although under-age drinking is still wrong, Cox’s friend was careful, and Cox went there to save a life. Instead, she lost her captain position and was suspended from playing.