 The Appalachian State University Student Government Association is proposing legislation to protect persons seekng medical help even if involved in illegal actions. Photo Illustration by James Fay
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by EMILY MELTON
News Reporter
CNN recently
published an article denoting alcohol as the number one health risk to
college students and attributed at least 50 deaths each year to binge
drinking.
The number does not include those who die or are injured in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes.
In
response, the Student Government Association at Appalachian State
University has proposed a medical amnesty legislative policy.
The
policy, established to protect liability for those who seek medical
help for illegal actions, would grant medical amnesty to students who
would otherwise face judicial repercussions after placing a call for
medical help, either for themselves or for another individual.
The
policy was proposed to increase the likelihood that students will call
for help in alcohol-related emergencies and receive an alcohol-related
educational intervention as a follow-up to their medical treatment.
“There
are really few students who feel unsafe in the traditional sense,” Matt
S. Moseley, director of Campus Outreach said. “We don’t really have a
huge crime problem here. But at the same time, there’s always ways that
you can improve the safety of students on campus.”
Although
Moseley recognizes some may argue the policy would encourage students
to drink because of the abandonment of repercussions, he believes no
student drinks with the sole purpose of getting alcohol poisoning.
“They
don’t get in trouble, but that doesn’t mean it’s a get out of jail free
card,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you’re just off the hook, but it does
mean that things that are traditionally seen as punishments, things
like fines or academic probation, would no longer be an issue.”
According
to the policy, only one medical amnesty will be allowed per
undergraduate student and both individuals involved must attend three
sessions for alcohol counseling.
The policy is based on policies adapted by Cornell University and, more recently, Elon University.
Statistics
released by Cornell show the policy has led to an increased amount of
calls regarding alcohol-related emergencies, though no correlation is
shown between students actually transported to an emergency room.
“This is
a big step for a university – to formally pledge that they’re not going
to punish people who call for help in alcohol-related emergencies,”
Mosely said. “Very few schools have them.”
University
Police Chief Gunther E. Doerr said 138 arrests involving alcohol were
made in 2008. Thirty-eight referrals were sent to the Office of Student
Conduct.
“A
policy may be worth looking into,” he said. “It’s always more important
to consider the safety of an individual rather than the punishment they
may face.”
SGA is currently meeting with administration to discuss the policy and hopes legislation will be in effect fall 2010.
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