Forum Moderators: open
Here in the US, I'd tell them to let me back into school or I go to the media with the story of their unbelievable stupidity - and their incredible luck that it was you who got in.
an entirely separate issue from being expelled/suspended.
I noted the alternative simply because the stated authorization to come back and sit for your exams sounds a tad more like a participation suspension was put in place for the balance of the semester.
My understanding may indeed be faulty, but being expelled generally doesn't include the ability to sit for one's exams and receive grades for the most recent semester.
If you're not certain whether you are temporarily suspended or formally expelled, you certainly need to get that point clear in your mind. It's a distinction that may well negatively impact your ability to enroll elsewhere.
It will likely serve you well to get firmly in your mind the seriousness of the matter from the perspective of the school administration. Even if you feel they are irrational on the topic, it is their perspective that will carry the most weight.
Don't expect the steps to be fun, but at least you'll have your schooling back.
I wouldn't mention the threats from dingleberry the IT guy.
I mean they have seriously neglected security issues. I am not a lawyer but I think there where some breaches of laws from the schools side, too. They have to protect the privacy of the data they store on their computers and they did not.
The school could well be sued for that and the students could take legal action against this irresponsible handling of their private data.
And if zootreeves was expelled, the least what should be done is too fire the IT guy, too. As a parent I would go mad if I heard that my kids reports and other data were so easy accessible.
My understanding may indeed be faulty, but being expelled generally doesn't include the ability to sit for one's exams and receive grades for the most recent semester.
That might be the case if it were a third level college - a University which awards degrees/dimplomas etc.
Zoot is taking A Levels. These are national exams set by central exam boards - not by the schools - taken at the end of secondary school, which is more or less the equivalent of High School. Lots of other schools in the region are going to be sitting the exact same exams and it is often possible to get access to an exam centre in a school even when you have not attended that school.
On the issue in hand - I think beg, beg, plead and beg are the only available options. Eat dirt. You are not in any position to take the legal or moral high ground, all you can do is throw yourself at their mercy.
jecasc i never thought of it that way, It would be at least some consolidation if the IT guy got fired.
did anyone witness the threat from the IT guy
Yes they did. but I'm not sure threatening to sue or anything is going to help my appeal to get back in.
I wouldn't try to get back in - you should see if you can find a private tutor (if not too expensive) so you can sit your exams, then move on.
you can find a private tutor
the problem with that is I do DT (design and technology) and so I don't have a workshop which I can use. therefore If I got a private tutor I would only be able to take 2 A levels and I'd never get into university with that.
That's an amazingly warped view of life.
Since you seem to not be constrained by any sort of right/wrong perspective, why don't you just rat-out your mom as the one who put you up to it. Then you can go on the talk show circuit as another child victum of criminal parents. Plus, you can spent all of her life savings while she's locked-up.
only kidding, only kidding! I don't want anyone to suffer.
jk3210, to be fair he did say this:
i never thought of it that way
Worst thing that would happen, is you would lose your user account for a week (which wasn't an issue, as we already had several back door's).
I guess this will set you back a year in your studies.
Go get a job, so you will have plenty of beer money, when you go back to college. I don't think they will hold this against you for more than a year, and maybe only a semister.
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, those who collect and use personal information have to follow rules of good practice for handling information. The Act also gives rights to individuals whose information they keep.
see :
[informationcommissioner.gov.uk...]
Incidentally, when I was doing my first degree, in computing, around 20 years ago, the Computer Misuse Act didn't exist, so when I successfully acquired the root password, I was actually given a post as an unofficial sysadmin.
Has anyone else on here ever been expelled?
er... twenty three years ago.... but it wasn't illegal...not expelled...just suspended until the end of my school days
That's an amazingly warped view of life.
Thanks for the info dragonthoughts.
I would see it as consolation if the English teacher got fired :)
Actually my english teacher did get fired, no joke.
The school is entirely within it's rights to expel you, however, when the dust settles, I imagine that it will be possible to negotiate.
Just one thing, don't keep secrets from whomsoever is negotiating on your behalf. If you've been in trouble before, etc. (or suspected of other stuff, rightly or wrongly) you must disclose this.
Kaled.
I assume you mean consolation. So you want the person fired, and possibly ruin his life, because he made it easier for you to break the laws? Part of me wishes that they don't accept you back in--at least not until your attitude changes.
I think those are double standards. If you expell the pupil for getting into the computer, the person who is responsible that this was possible so easily should be held accountable too.
And in my opinion this guy should be fired. I at least would have fired him if he was working for me.
If someone breaks into my computer or ecommerce system and gets private information from my customers I can be held accountable. If I have more than 5 employees in my company I am even required to appoint a data security official.
There are strict guidelines for public facilities like schools or public authorities how to handle and secure personal data. I doubt those guidlines have been met by the college.
If zootreeves wanted to take it on I am sure heads would role and in the end it could not only be the IT guy who would have to go.
However I do not think that this would be the proper tactic to get back into the school.
I think the idea to get a third party involved to negotiate a little bit when the smoke has settled is the best. But I do not think it is false to apply a little pressure in pointing out that grave mistakes have been made in handling security issues by the college.
I also don't understand why you wouldn't TELL someone of this security breech. You took advantage of it for personal gain (as harmless as it may have been).
I'm sorry, but you need to accept responsibility for what you did.
Good luck to you, I really hope you can work this out and continue your education. I'd say you learned your lesson, as did the school (about Internet security).
He turned out OK in the end, just took a different route once the college ended. We do survive, and move on.
I think it's totally wrong to try to present any defense based on the IT idiots failure to secure the system. That's his problem, not yours. Yours is in determining right action from wrong action, and failure to recognize the results of your actions. This time was only an inconvenience, and the punishment seems to fit.
Let me guess, the IT person probably doesn't have a BACK-UP system either....
ED
"Oh someone got into our computer system"
"That can not be possible, all users have signed a Acceptable Use Policy."
This time was only an inconvenience, and the punishment seems to fit.
A minor inconvenience for potentially ruining someone's life. Can't get into another college > can only take 2 A levels > No decent university > No degree > Basically no good job prospects...
