Word: fdo
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1980-1989
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...FDO told Sam they were recommending that he be put on disciplinary probation (which leaves a permanent mark on one's record) and submitted this recommendation to the Ad Board. Two days before Sam left for Christmas the University sentenced him with probation. And sent him, a local hero from upstate New York, home in disgrace after his first semester at Harvard--for something he didn't really...
...they harassed him. It wasn't enough to call him in for a talk. His senior adviser questioned his motives and frightened him by talking about punishment possibilities, including expulsion. The Dean of Freshmen pushed him to the brink of tears. In Sam's eyes no one in the FDO ever gave him the benefit of the doubt, or even questioned that maybe he'd made an innocent blunder. Instead, they questioned his motives and analyzed him and made him feel very badly. Sam's willingness to apologize, and even his desire to send a letter of apology...
...motives of the FDO are unclear. They said they did what they felt was right. But it bothers me very much that an office full of people whose job it is to look after freshmen and understand them--should react as they did in this case. They acknowledged that they knew a lot about Sam. They knew that Sam's father died in an auto accident a year ago, and that Sam was extremely upset by this. They knew he couldn't tell his mother about his troubles because it would break her heart. They knew that...
...have had other problems I don't know about. He probably did. But it was up to the FDO to find out about these, and to think about the consequences of their disciplinary action. I'm not saying that what Sam did in the Union was right. It wasn't. What I am saying is that Sam was one heck of a wonderful guy and in no way deserved the punishment that the FDO showered upon him. No one, guilty or not, deserved this kind of treatment the week before Christmas...
...never be replaced, and a part of him shall always be out with me, reminding me of the fragility of life, and the need to look out for others. I hope the FDO has learned something from this, that Sam's life may not have gone to waste. The next time someone gets into trouble at Harvard, perhaps some administrator will take the time to get to know that person a little better, and think hard about his or her motives before passing judgement...