1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest
Responsibility, Who Has It and Who Doesn't and What That
Means For The Nation
Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
Teacher: Michael Nynas
1st Marvin
ScottVerbeck 2nd Lindsay Mannelin 
3rd
Erika E. Grossell
"A man named Christopher Duffy of Farmington, Massachusetts.
stole a car from a parking lot and got killed in an accident. His estate sued the
proprietor of the lot for failing to prevent auto thefts."
Erika Grossell, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"A
convicted murderer, Ratford Cox, was awarded $19,609.80 for two years worth of withheld
benefits, after he complained of not having enough money to buy cigarettes. When his life
sentence was decided, the judge took away Cox's weekly workers' compensation payments.
After his complaint, the state's Court of Appeals reinstated his payments saying that
"there is no statutory authority for such a suspension."
Angie Guthrie, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"One
night four teenage friends were in an idling vehicle. The driver had unknowingly backed
his Bronco into a snow bank. The exhaust system was not working right, and carbon monoxide
seeped into the vehicle. Sometime later a boyfriend of one of the two girls was out
looking for them. What he found didn't look good. He found his girlfriend, her best
friend, and two male friends slumped over; he knew it was carbon monoxide poisoning and
that he had to get them to a hospital quick. He rolled down the windows of the Bronco and
drove to the hospital. Upon arrival the two sitting in the back seat, a boy and his
girlfriend's friend, were found dead. The others were near death but lived with minor
problems resulting from the poisoning. It was a matter of minutes before they would've
died too. Now the parents who own the Bronco want to sue the teen who saved their son's
life. He took responsibility and did a heroic thing, but the responsibility avoiders claim
he should not have driven their vehicle without their permission."
Lindsay Mannelin, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"Another example of media irresponsibility is the recent rash of
setup news stories. Although NBC, and its scandal over setting up a GMC truck to blow up
during a news story on the dangers of the truck's gas tanks, was the most publicized,
almost every major network has been accused of rigging news stories. CBS has been accused
of setting up combat scenes in Afghanistan. A news reporter in Alexandria, Minnesota, was
found guilty of providing minors with alcohol for a story on teenage drinking. É A
reporter for USA Today was suspended for fixing up a photo of gang-members. The reporter
had actually sent the young men home to get their guns to pose for the picture."
Mara Bergeron, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"With
the freedom that our country gives us comes more responsibility."
Erika Grossell, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota