Seems like the college is the one taking a hard line – i.e. the college is committed to being adversarial.
In addition to getting a lawyer, the student may also want to look into paths to transfer to another college (which may require a semester at community college so that the student will be eligible to continue enrollment at the last college attended). It looks like the college does not want the student back, which can have other negative effects if the student does re-enroll there.
So I would want clarification about why this student and a few others were punished so harshly, when there was presumably a large frat party going on.
-age?
-standing outside versus inside? (not his fault, too crowded)
I think you need to figure out what you want (e.g. readmission) and what you are likely to get.
I don’t think you’re going to get an “explanation” beyond what you already have. The explanation the school gave you is “your son was caught with an open container, which is a suspendable offense, and now he’s suspended.”
Billy and Susie were treated less harshly? Perhaps. Are they going to tell you - a third party - why? Of course not.
If you go full on helicopter-gunship mom, complete with lawyers, do you think that will make them more forthcoming or less?
Not that it really makes a difference, but my assumption was they couldn’t get in because they weren’t let in, it’s very common for frats not to let other guys into a party (but let girls in).
There has to be more to the story. One semester is usually hard drugs, assault or similar.
Well, it sounds like they can’t become LESS forthcoming. So yes, a proper attorney can possibly get more information than they’ve been able to, and might learn more about options. I don’t think anyone suggested she go “full-on helicopter-gunship mom” 
, but I do think many consider the school’s lack of communication even with the student himself (not providing him with documentation he asked for) to be unacceptable. Kicking someone out for an entire semester, complete with losing all the associated expenses, for an extremely minor and commonplace infraction is not really normal. This situation may require experienced assistance (and I say this never having ever hired a lawyer for any complaint in my life–I am the opposite of a litigious person and I have great disdain for our overly-litigious society!) And I’m not advocating suing the school, for sure. But I am thinking that they do need a more experienced advocate to help them with this situation, since they aren’t getting far on their own.
If the semester-long suspension remains in place, I would evaluate if this is the right school for your son. If he’s made great friends, loves the environment, the professors and educational experience he’s had to date, overall it’s a fantastic fit and he’s committed to staying there, that’s great. However, one bummer for your son beyond this semester loss is that the penalties for future infractions may be even steeper. So it may make it almost impossible for him to have a social life without real worry/concern/paranoia about getting caught doing something minor again and having extreme consequences. I would want to know what happens if he makes any tiny mistake in the future. With a semester off, he may have time to look into other school options where he would have a clean slate. Of course, it seems so silly that he should even have to think of transferring schools over something so minor. I think it’s likely with a lawyer’s help you may be able to keep him in school even this semester. Good luck!
Maybe he provided the beer to the other students or maybe he refused to obey the instructions of the campus police. We do not know. But the details may have been memorialized in the written apology / confession.
What we do know is that there is more to the story than has been revealed so far.
I would like to see, in writing, what the violation was, and, in writing, what the college’s punishment is for that violation.
OP doesn’t come across that way in the least. And frankly, are you suggesting just walking away and letting the 18/19 year old figure it out? Wow. I can’t imagine any parent walking away from this situation that has some very significant implications.
I’m suggesting exactly what I suggested. That she figure out what her goal is, and from there how to achieve it.
I respectfully disagree. You get a lawyer when your child was falsely accused of something. Hiring a lawyer after your kid admits they messed up sends a horrible message to this child. He didn’t fear the consequences of his actions. He had no problem being underage in public with an alcoholic beverage in his hand, probably because his parents have shielded him before. I think this severe punishment is a blessing, and will be beneficial in the long run.
I suggested a lawyer simply to help the family get the documented information from the college. Even when the student is guilty…they should be able to access the documentation that led up to the suspension.
The college has indicated they won’t provide this to the student…or to the parents (who the student has waived privacy rights to for this).
Maybe, just maybe a lawyer can help obtain the documentation.
My husband’s father paid for a lawyer to get a marijuana charge taken off his permanent record back when he was in HS. He’s still grateful, that would’ve been a long punishment! I think most of us believe that the punishment in this case doesn’t fit the crime, since it’s most likely a 5 figure punishment for underaged drinking in public, a very very common college experience.
An attorney may be able help to determine whether or not the punishment was consistent–or even justified–with the offense.
If every underage college student was suspended for holding a can of beer in front of a fraternity house which was having a party, then colleges would have no need for dormatories.
The OP and the kid may need a lawyer to get the documentation on what the college saw as the actual offense and the appropriate punishment.
It is entirely possible that the kid did something much more serious (in the view of the college) than the OP or kid knows about. But the OP and kid still need to know the details from the college’s point of view beyond “you are suspended, and we will not tell you why”. Otherwise, the lesson that may be learned may not be the right one.
Aha!! We found the one person in America who has never driven 36 mph in a 35 mph zone .
@Laxmama24 please keep us updated-- The most important thing here is knowing what your son exactly did.
Then you can assess the punishment, whether the offense is worth 35k, if you have standing wrt anything…
So your kid gets caught jaywalking, his sentence is a year in jail, are you okay with that?
No. Of course not.
I don’t think it is extreme for an underage student who gets busted in public (especially on or near campus) holding an alcoholic beverage to be suspended for a semester. I think learning a lesson like this can be very valuable. I think it sends a horrible message to a student who admits they messed up like this for the parents to hire an attorney.