As part of an ongoing effort to revamp alcohol-related policies at Dartmouth, the recently formed "Good Samaritan" committee plans to issue preliminary recommendations for revision at the Student Assembly meeting Tuesday night. The recommendations will be ready for public discussion at that time, Dean of the College James Larimore said in an interview with The Dartmouth.
After the formation of the committee in early May, Larimore challenged it to develop recommendations for a revised "Good Samaritan" policy within one month, with an eye towards issuing final recommendations before the end of the term, he said. According to Larimore, however, the group, which had its first full meeting early last week, is ahead of its initial schedule due to its ability to very quickly agree on a proposed course of action.
The primary concern facing the committee is a clarification of the "Good Samaritan" policy, which is currently more focused on perception and myth than on reality, Larimore said. One example of this is the perception that the class deans are reluctant to use the "Good Samaritan" policy, when in fact, Larimore said, the deans applied the policy to more cases than were requested.
The exact language of the policy is also problematic, he added. The policy in the Organizations, Regulations and Courses College bulletin currently states, "Students and organizations that seek assistance from these sources will not be subject to College disciplinary action for either: (1) being the intoxicated person; or (2) having provided that person with alcohol. This 'Good Samaritan policy' guideline does not excuse or protect those individuals or organizations whose behavior flagrantly or repeatedly violates the College alcohol policy."
The clause "flagrantly and repeatedly" is frequently misinterpreted due to a campus assumption that "repeatedly" means a student can only be excused one time from disciplinary action under the "Good Samaritan" policy, Larimore said. Using specific language that clarifies these misperceptions is a major goal of the committee, because it should help to remove the concerns that prevent students from calling for help, he said.
One central part of the "Good Samaritan" policy that most likely will not change, however, is the requirement that a student call Safety and Security or local police, fire safety or medical professionals for help in order to initiate use of the policy, Larimore said. A student who is picked up by Safety and Security will still not be eligible to invoke the "Good Samaritan" policy.
The review committee was formed following two conversations regarding concerns about the current policy, Larimore said. With the Social Events Management Procedures review process nearing an end, members of the Assembly began talking with students and administrators including the Undergraduate Judicial Affairs office and the Office of Residential Life, about their personal views and perceptions of the "Good Samaritan" policy. At the same time, another group of administrators had also begun discussions about the difficulties and flaws of the policy independently of the the Assembly discussions, Larimore said.
"The environment was really ripe for a project that would bring students and administrators to the table," he said.
The committee, chaired by April Thompson, director of Undergraduate Judicial Affairs, is composed of administrators including Ryan Travia, coordinator for alcohol and other drug education programs, and eight students. Larimore said he had recommended that drug and alcohol peer advisers, student emergency medical technicians, members of the SEMP committee and students involved in prior Assembly discussions regarding the "Good Samaritan" policy be a part of the committee, due to the many different types of knowledge each student could bring to the discussion.
The formation of the Good Samaritan committee was not, however, precipitated by a specific incident, Larimore said. He explained that the Assembly discussion regarding the policy preceded any recent widely publicized events involving the "Good Samaritan" policy.
In the Winter term, both Chi Gamma Epsilon and Theta Delta Chi fraternities called in "Good Samaritans" to Safety and Security. The incident at a Chi Gam party involved three intoxicated females who needed assistance. Safety and Security eventually shut down the party, but the fraternity was not held culpable. Theta Delt called in a "Good Samaritan" on a member of its brotherhood. Because the individual was so intoxicated, an ambulance and Hanover Police were called. As a result, the fraternity was charged with five counts of serving alcohol to minors. The College investigated the incident, but that fraternity has not been disciplined.
The policy is reviewed regularly to see if the new policies are effective, with the last minor adjustments to the policy made two years ago, Larimore said.
"This [review] fortunately has not been driven by a crisis or student death," Larimore said. "It was a great opportunity because we were not in a mode to react to something specific."
