Julia Rudansky

After much consideration, the school administration cancelled the Coast dance for the remainder of the school year. The decision was made subsequent to the suspension of six students, all having attended the dance under the influence of alcohol. The suspensions did not go on the students’ permanent records.

A lunchtime forum was held on Jan. 12, allowing students to voice their opinions on the major event. Administrators, teachers and guidance counselors were also present and voiced their positions, giving perspective on the severity of the suspensions and following repercussions.   

The tradition of holding the dance began in 2007, and the dance was hosted twice a year by the Student Council. The Coast, held in the Harbor Island Pavilion in Mamaroneck, was open to students in all grades, and in previous years the dance had allowed for students who attended other high schools to enter the Coast. 

In Oct. 2008, the Coast was cancelled due to fire codes and safety hazards that posed a threat to the security of the students. This year, the dance was restricted to 350 students. Tickets were sold during school hours to avoid chaos at the dance and to insure that only the specified number of students was admitted into the building.

At the dance, people were seen vomiting and acting inappropriately. During the Coast Forum, Principal Mark Orfinger said that he was embarrassed and upset by the behavior of the students and the outcome of the dance.

Shortly after the forum, a decision was made by administration. “We will

have no more school-sponsored dances this year,” Orfinger said. “In the future, we'll have to re-evaluate where we stand in terms of sponsoring events like this.”

Coordinator of Student Affairs Carol Scheffler, students who comprised the Coast Board, Assistant Principal Steve Frasene and class advisers worked to plan and promote the event.

Co-President of the Coast Board, Conor Joyce ’11 said, “Many kids came to the dance under the influence, and it put the Coast Board and the chaperones in a difficult situation.”

The administration hoped the dance would give students an opportunity to socialize and have an enjoyable time in an environment free of alcohol and other drugs.

In 2007, after the first Coast, 11 students were suspended after having been caught under the influence of alcohol. The school continued to host the dance regardless of past incidents. 

The administration was hesitant to reintroduce the Coast this school year.  “Despite serious reservations that we had about sponsoring the Coast dance, we acceded to the wishes of the student body given their assurances that all the students would act responsibly,” Orfinger said.

            The administration’s main concern was for the safety of the students. Frasene said it was known that many students had arrived to the dance under the influence of drugs.

This worry was escalated, as stated at the forum, due to the liability of the school should any student have a fatal incident due to the consumption of alcohol.

            Orfinger said, “While only a relatively small number of students were detected to be under the influence of alcohol, we heard from other students that the problem

was more widespread.”

The administration vocally expressed its worry of those intoxicated. The administration said it was a difficult situation because so many were under the influence that had not been caught and many could have driven home, turning a small incident into a tragedy.

“It ruined my weekend,” Frasene said at the forum. “It was hell.”

             Orfinger explicitly stated that he had no intention of turning MHS into a police state. In response to a question posed at the forum about the use of breathalyzers before entering a school event, Orfinger said, “We might as well not have any functions.”

            A bigger issue spiraled from the offenses of the students caught. The use of drugs and alcohol was a main subject discussed during the forum raising the question of both safety and responsibility. 

            The administration admitted to the massive alcohol problem surrounding MHS and was disappointed to say that after the dance, a message was sent to the community loud and clear that drinking is rampant. 

President of Student Council Natalie TeBoul ’10 said, “Everyone drinks, whether at Coast or not.”

Other students were very vocal about the issue of alcohol, stating that the Coast was not the only school event at which students have been caught under the influence. During both the Pep Rally and at various proms hosted by MHS, drinking has been unavoidable. 

An anonymous source said, “It is not a huge task to come to an event sober.” 

The suspensions of the students led to the question of consequences. The students violated both the New York state law as well as the Mamaroneck student code of conduct regarding alcohol. 

Teachers at the forum were very upset by the incident. “Twenty-one is the drinking age, and you’re forgetting that,” one chaperone said. 

While students verbalized the want for another Coast, it was evident that the administration had bigger worries. “While I want students to have opportunities to socialize in after-school activities, their safety and well-being are of paramount importance,” Orfinger said.   

While Orfinger acknowledged that it is sad that many are penalized for the relatively few who act irresponsibly, it is hard to detect who has been drinking.

Throughout the forum, students commented that the responsibility of those at fault should fall directly on those who were caught.

TeBoul said, “It’s their choice, their problem.”