The reporting of this story has been very fishy. 3 guns? Oh, my! Oh, wait...two of them were owned by a criminal justice major and none of them were used in committing any crimes. Anniversary of a "tragic overdose". No. There were "traces" of cocaine in her system. But most likely, alcohol or something completely different caused her death. Not recreational drug usage. Dumanis and the Robo-Cops ought to focus on real crimes, not college students smoking weed. This was all about chasing headlines. (cont.)

Posted by Fred Williams | reply to this comment
May 9, 2008 7:12 am

(cont.) Further, the tragic effect of these violent raids on peaceful weed smoking students has been completely ignored. They've already been suspended, perhaps expelled, and likely lost all future financial aid. For smoking weed in their dorm rooms? Pink Floyd fan Sanders was busted for drunk driving when he was their age, potentially killing someone, but received NO punishment whatsoever. Dumanis used to champion lenience for drug offenders, recognizing how trivial smoking weed is compared to real crimes. Now she claims these students are somehow a major threat? What is she smoking?

Posted by Fred Williams | reply to this comment
May 9, 2008 7:15 am

Fred, read the stories again. The kids weren't just smoking pot, they were selling and distributing very large quantities of it -- PLUS ectasy tablets and cocaine (one student "sold" a quarter-pound of coke to a DEA agent). California minimized penalties for pot possession some time ago, if it's under an ounce and for personal use. These arrests go far beyond that boundary and also involve other drugs. Doesn't it bother you that criminal justice and "Homeland Security" students are profiting from dealing with foreign drug lords?

Posted by Truthy | reply to this comment
May 9, 2008 9:06 am

What was the involvment of the other frats? They have mentioned 6 involved, but have only discussed Theta Chi and Phi Kappa Psi. My guess is the other 4 are linked through infractions members recieved during the course of the operation, but were in no way involved in the drug ring. Is everyone excepting the theory that all frats are bad without looking a little deeper?

Posted by Big George | reply to this comment
May 9, 2008 9:30 am

What was the involvment of the other frats? They have mentioned 6 involved, but have only discussed Theta Chi and Phi Kappa Psi. My guess is the other 4 are linked through infractions members recieved during the course of the operation, but were in no way involved in the drug ring. Is everyone excepting the theory that all frats are bad without looking a little deeper?

Posted by Big George | reply to this comment
May 9, 2008 9:30 am

My daughter (sorority member at SDSU) has been told by the president of the sorority to KEEP QUIET. She has been instructed NOT to talk to the press or to anyone else about what has happened. She tells me that all Greek organizations are being told to keep quiet. WALL of SILENCE from the greek system.

Posted by CV Mom | reply to this comment
May 9, 2008 9:40 am

Of course there is a wall of silence. Iâ??m assuming that in the by-laws of your daughterâ??s sorority, which she is supposed to know and abide by, it says that the President is the only person authorized to speak with the media. Itâ??s standard for any organization to have a single point person for all contacts, media or others, so that everyone stays on the same page. Not to mention, serious issues of liability and lawsuits that could be spawned by an unknowing college sophomore exaggerating a bit when led to by an unscrupulous reporter (but of course none from the Voice). If your daughter has some illegal activity to report, she should have already done so and still can. It's called an anonymous tip. If she says she canâ??t, she has probably done some things that you wouldnâ??t be so proud of.

Posted by Big George | reply to this comment
May 9, 2008 10:18 am

It is a shame to see that either the DA trumped up the announcement to make headlines OR the media missed this one and was so caught up in the story that they didn't ask very in-depth questions to prevent these inaccurate headlines from being the story. Based on the reporting of the number discrepencies, the DA should be ashamed of herself. While my initial reaction was positive, it now is somewhat less so due to the manipulation of data for press conference sizzle. What is she running for next?

Posted by Will Turko tackle this? | reply to this comment
May 9, 2008 3:10 pm

Truthy, actually it was two or three who were dealing coke (one of them the gun owning criminal justice grad student). Most of the rest were busted for possession of small amounts of pot. But you'll have to read the stories very closely to find this out. The headlines are just not telling the truth, Truthy. These kids will be forever tainted for doing the exact same as Clinton, Obama, and Bush. How is that good for society? Abolish the DEA.

Posted by Fred Williams | reply to this comment
May 10, 2008 6:11 am

One can't help but recognize that all the dangerous drugs involved in this mess are speed/ uppers.Those used to accelerate reality or create a heighten'd sense that's,in fact,a non-ordinary reality of superiority.When mixed with testosterone,which,i probably the most dangerous drug of all you've got a potent and dangerously explosive mix.I'll wager that the trifecta combination of alcohol and speed coinciding with the natural glandular explosion in young males is the cause of more tragedy than any other in our society,save Iraq and Afghanistan.Although we're all focused just now on the Fraternaties this is an endemic National problem that transcends our telescopic + microcosmic analysis of the university Greeks alone. One wonders if the almost total absence of the Sororities,in this story, might lend credence to my argument?

Posted by Jack Griffiths | reply to this comment
May 10, 2008 8:28 am

Living near SDSU, I see the frats all the time, and have plenty of opportunity to formulate an image of my neighbors,.... prior to the drug news, nothing in their outward appearance suggested "men of character, priciples and ideals." The drug news is consistent with their existing image of junky party houses, trashy party boys, vapid college boys. If frat leaders were concerned about image, then they should have become concerned long ago.

Posted by MtGoat | reply to this comment
May 11, 2008 9:15 am

Here's the key to the story media almost got right: "But at the beginning of the semester they said 'OK we're doing Sudden Fall, that means zero tolerance.' Many of those 41 became, either wittingly or unwittingly, helpful to the police." "The idea was to show the public and show the campus: 'Look, here's a snapshot of what occurred during this one term,'". What this means is that law enforcement wanted its own pseudo-reality show and got what passes for investigative media to follow along like a lovesick puppy. What is the result? Some students tarred forever as victims of a major drug bust, SDSU tarnished permanently and open to more aggressive, intolerant policing, and some polish on the DA's and fed's feathers. Both parties will use this to get more funding from government as part of the war on ''drugs'' and grandstand to high office.

Posted by Fred | reply to this comment
May 12, 2008 11:22 am

I don't see grandstanding at all. 70-odd arrests makes a better headline, sure..but the bulk of 'em came during the investigation, and are tied to it. As it shakes down, the smart money says 30 or so will be prosecuted for distribution or possession of "sale weight," leaving 40 with minor beefs. Yeah, man, fight the power! It's just an herb! Don't let The Man break you down! Question Authority! Tune in, turn on..I forget the rest. Keep on Truckin'... Hey, 1971 called. It wants its failed ideology back! Drug dealers got caught. Some were ratted out by their friends. The fraternities aren't the problem, but yeah, if they're so high-minded, how many of 'em knew there were felonies being committed..and did nothing about it? Gimme a break.

Posted by Rob H. | reply to this comment
May 12, 2008 6:50 pm

"3 guns? Oh, my! Oh, wait...two of them were owned by a criminal justice major and none of them were used in committing any crimes." Uh, you might want to do some research on the enhancement of criminal charges. See, if you're slinging meth, E, mushrooms, coke, and yeah, weed, AND you're packing heat...it makes it a bigger crime. Drug dealing + guns = harsher punishment upon conviction. Either that, or I've wasted a whole lot of time watching cop shows on TV! Just curious..what makes you think the guns weren't used in the commission of any crimes? You're critical of the "reporting" of this story..but have no problem jumping to your own conclusions? Fishy, indeed.

Posted by Rob H. | reply to this comment
May 12, 2008 7:02 pm

Fred W., nobody ever championed lenience for drug offenders. Some people favor comparative lenience for non-violent crimes, anybody with a brain favors treatment as part of the rehabilitation process, but nobody ever said you shouldn't be punished for breaking the law. Suspension? Expulsion? Loss of future financial aid? Cry me a river, my friend. So someone gets busted, gets a misdemeanor or infraction on their record, has to re-apply to a different school, and has to pick up the tab for their own education? Tragedy? Not even close. Sounds fair to me. Here's a thought: When you know something is illegal, and you get caught doing it, shut up and take your punishment. Learn from it and move on. Welcome to the real world..it's how we roll, off-campus.

Posted by Rob H. | reply to this comment
May 12, 2008 7:09 pm

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