Hello and welcome to fornits! Thanks for sharing all that.
Was there many rings during your time? Not you in particular, but as a whole in general? I was there around 87-88, I signed out in a short time compared to what I was intentially told I had to stay there.
Elan for me was an out of control enviroment at times, the staff were fucking looney when it came to dealing with the non-compliant. It was almost like that lived for that shit. Actually I think most did. We had our signs, GM's, 3 houses, and crazy LE's and ofcoarse bordem and depression from being away from our familes and friends. Can't believe that they kept you there for 3 years?? What did they tell you when you first arrived, of how long a general stay would be?
I've seen elan give up on people that were there for as little as 7 months because they were non-compliant with the program and they got discharged just like that. They must of figured that keeping and dealing with the non-conformative still equals bucks. My case in particualr after I signed out, from what I heard elan kept billing my state long after I was gone, I never found out what became of that issue. My family actually was contacted eventially from the state and they told them I left that place 6 months prior on my own will. Then I guess at some point an investigation was executed by the State to get to the bottom of things.
I recall the place you speak of (Long Lane), I remember some students that came from that place. That place also used to be mentioned in GM's and spoke of the horros that went on there as well. I remeber Jeff G. saying stuff like (You want to go back to long lane) to the student receiving the GM.
Anyway welcome aboard and make sure to check up on the TCK adventures and the hi yuh yuh way.