Member suspended after State Career Development Conference

On March 5 at 2 a.m., a MVHS senior was found with a can of Four Loko, a banned drink primarily comprised of caffeinated alcohol and sugar, in his Santa Clara Marriott hotel room during the DECA State Career Development Conference. The student was sent home early from the conference, suspended by the school administration, and permanently banned from DECA, according to multiple sources from within the school’s DECA organization.

A similar incident occurred at DECA’s Nor-Cal Leadership Development Conference in January when the conference’s private security discovered another student under the influence of controlled substances. Both incidents were brought to the attention of administration and the police. DECA advisor Carl Schmidt and president Japheth Wong both declined to comment on the issue for reasons of confidentiality.

“DECA gives you a lot of freedom to do what you want to do, and sometimes people misuse that,” said one active DECA member, who is involved in the organization but wished to remain anonymous for reasons of confidentiality. “DECA’s policies align with those of the school’s.”

According to DECA conference policies, attendees can venture off the premises of the hotel and be in their rooms without adult supervision. Though conference attendees may have this freedom allotted to them, DECA officers take attendance and check rooms each night. Furthermore, hired security guards are present in the hotel corridors to help enforce the organization’s prohibition of alcohol and drugs, a rule which mirrors the school’s policy.

“I wouldn’t say the measures failed,” the source said. “People are going to drink if they want to drink…and one person’s decision shouldn’t affect the 300 of us who have a blast.”

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