Post-Prom Party Killing

The tragic story about the prom-night killing, unfortunately, is an extreme example of what happens at post-prom parties. The combination of teen abuse of alcohol, lack of adult supervision and hotels’ lax rules of renting to adolescents is a dangerous equation.

As a teacher involved in drug education, I dread the first day after the prom because of all the stories of drinking and sexual escapades. This year’s after-prom activities make the antics depicted in the movie “Animal House” look tame, with a reported three videotapes circulating depicting various couples in sex acts in full view of large groups of fellow students.

While nothing as dramatic as a murder took place, certainly serious and embarrassing actions did. I am sure that parents didn’t anticipate that this is what their children were going to do at these parties, but as long as they allow their children to go to all-night parties and communities continue to allow hotels to rent rooms to their children, tragic results will follow.

Schools are powerless over the actions of students at these parties, which are not sanctioned or chaperoned by school officials. But we all deal with the fallout of teen pregnancy, teens killed or maimed in drunk-driving accidents, or, as in the case at Crescenta Valley High, murder. What a waste of potential, all for a night of reverie and acting “grown up.” How very sad.

MONICA STUDER

Culver City