<p>This was definitely a foolish mistake on the student's part, but don't assume, at this point, that he's going to jail at all, much less for ten years. Don't be fooled by news stories about "minimum sentences" -- the vast majority of those charged with drug crimes strike plea bargains, and when they have access to a good lawyer, as this student will, they often get pretty good deals.</p>
<p>His parents seem middle class. Access to a good lawyer can be mighty expensive. . .</p>
<p>Maybe it was his way to study...</p>
<p>Soren J. Siebach 08, Lawrences neighbor, has a different take: Interesting people tend to have interesting study habits, he says. </p>
<p>Good lawyers are a lot less expensive than the lifetime cost of a felony conviction and a couple of years in jail. Virtually the only defendants who use public defenders are those who are actually indigent, i.e. zero assets. Middle-class people will typically sell the family home if that's what it takes to get out of this kind of charge. Also, educated white people are often in a position to borrow what they need if they don't have it on hand. He'll have decent representation -- you don't need to hire Alan Dershowitz to have a good defense.</p>
<p>He also probably can get access to a good lawyer at reasonable cost through Harvard Law school and its network. Harvard and alums will help him out.</p>
<p>The student made a very dumb mistake, but Havard still wouldn't want to see his life wrecked because of that.</p>
<p>Someone was kicked out for "allegedly trying to steal dorm furniture??"</p>
<p>Uh oh...</p>
<p>So you know, it's very hard to be permanently kicked out of Harvard. Presumably after sifting through thousands of applicants to select the chosen few Harvard students, cognitive dissonance inspires Harvard to stand by its students.</p>
<p>Now, if one had cheated on an exam, gotten caught stealing furniture, kicked a police officer while tripping on LSD before applying to Harvard, more than likely one would not be admitted. If one does such things afterward, however, more than likely one will get the opportunity to eventually graduate.</p>
<p>Here's what happened to Ted Kennedy according to the Harvard Independent. While Kennedy was high profile, I know that Harvard would do the same for people from ordinary backgrounds:</p>
<p>" What Ted Kennedy got on his Spanish A final.</p>
<p>The myth: Sen. Edward Kennedy '54-'56 was required to withdraw for two years after cheating on a Spanish final. He had paid someone to take the test for him, and spent the exam period hanging out in Elsie's -- where he ran into his TF.</p>
<p>The truth: It wasn't Elsie's -- Elsie's didn't exist at the time. And Kennedy didn't pay the other party to take the test for him. And he didn't personally run into the TF. Otherwise, the story is right on.</p>
<p>Kennedy did get nailed for cheating. The story is told in Burton Hersh's <em>The Education of Edward Kennedy</em>.</p>
<p>In the spring of 1951, freshman Teddy Kennedy has a Spanish A final to take. One of his football teammates had a roommate who knew the language very well -- they called him "The Master of Spanish." Someone joked that the Master should take Teddy's exam for him.</p>
<p>On a whim, the Master agreed. Unfortunately, the Spanish A exam proctor recognized him. Within minutes of the exam's conclusion, Kennedy got a call from Dean of the College Delmar Leighton's office. He was nailed: Immediate suspension, readmission to be considered after at least one year off.</p>
<p>Teddy ended up enlisting in the Army during his time off. After 16 months of service, he returned to Harvard in 1953. From that point on, he trod the straight and narrow, and graduated in 1956 with a B average."</p>
<p>Wait a minute--if he has no money, where did he get the drugs? 38 hits of LSD--is all that for personal comsumption? There is some serious disconnect going on here!</p>