President of Indiana University's son, and IU Freshman Lucien McRobbie arrested for possession of marijuana and pariphenalia in IU dorm.

According to this article in the Indiana Daily Student.

As the article explains, he faces two class A misdemeanors, each carrying up to a $5,000 fine and a year in jail.

Though (assuming this is his first offense) he will probably "only" suffer the standard sentence of probation, fines, court costs and community service, he will no doubt also suffer the social stigmatization of a criminal conviction. Hopefully, with good legal representation and leniency in sentencing he will be able to obtain the eventual expungement of his record. But in McRobbie's case that will be mostly a technical matter. A cursory check into his background will reveal this matter to anyone checking in the future, so he will have to disclose it to anyone inquiring in the future.

Fortunately, if progressive trends continue, and unless any other youthful indiscretions he commits run afoul of the authorities, society-at-large will probably not hold him out as a deviant forever. (I certaninly hope he is not caught having a beer at a party, then interviewers twenty-years hence may want to ask about his substance abuse problem. Or if, God forbid, he is caught smoking marijuana again, they'll want to know about his illegal drug addiction.

Though his father's immense reputation will probably ensure lenient treatment, he will certainy face harsh fines, one would hope his father's finances would create some sort of financial buffer. A buffer will certainly be necessary if he is to stay in college. A draconian Federal Law will cancel his eligibility for student aid for a year, and up to life if he is convicted again.

So, at least for now, society won't pass permanent judgment on the young man. I don't know how he is paying for college, but hopefully, unlike many less well-endowed young men and women who are convicted of illegal drug crimes, he won't have his ability to complete college threatened.

This begs the question: does society considers it appropriate to withhold higher education from poorer kids convicted of drug crimes, but not appropriate to withhold it from richer kids convicted of the same crimes? If so, why?