Tina Penman was forced to resign from her post as vice president of Academic Affairs within student government, because of an underage drinking incident. The university’s code of conduct states that any student on probation that holds an office must resign. Teary, she had to address senators and fellow executive board members. But possibly the most difficult aspect of her resignation was facing her peers, and admitting she had made a mistake.

Be that as it may, the situation that forced Penman to vacate office was not because she is held to a higher level, but was she caught in a residence hall drinking underage.

She broke the rules.

The university holds student leaders on a higher level, and they should. The issue at hand is not that Penman is being penalized because she is a student leader; it is instead because she violated university policy. Penman made a mistake, and now she must face the consequences.

Although removed from her office and relieved of her duties, Penman can still serve as an example. Just because other students do not hold office and are not viewed as public figures on campus, they too should be aware of the consequences of underage drinking.