Erin Cox was suspended for five games from the North Andover High School volleyball team--and demoted from team captain--after school officials said she was in violation of the school district’s zero tolerance policy against alcohol and drug use.
Cox didn’t drink or do drugs--her crime was driving a drunk friend home.
Cox made the drive after her friend called her, saying that she was too drunk to drive and asking for a ride home.
Cox, a senior and a honor student, is shocked at the choice of the school officials.
Her mother Eleanor told CBS that her daughter is heartbroken.
“She’s very fragile and I’m worried about her,“ said Eleanor Cox. ”Very worried about her. She didn’t do anything wrong.”
“If a kid asks for help from a friend, you don’t want that kid to say ‘I’m sorry I can’t help you. I might end up in trouble at school,’” said attorney Wendy Murphy, who is representing the family.
“The Cox family filed a lawsuit in District Court on Friday but a lawyer for the school district argued against any kind of injunction. The judge ruled the court did not have jurisdiction,” according to CBS.
Geoffrey Bok, who represented the high school in court Friday, told the Boston Herald that once police became involved the school officials didn’t have a choice.
“The school is really trying to take a very serious and principled stand regarding alcohol,” he said. And we all get that. Teen drinking is a serious problem.”
