Last night, the "Good Samaritan" working group released its recommendations to revise the current "Good Samaritan" policy, with the stated aim of better protecting and supporting students. The group plans to receive community input on possible alterations until the end of the week, at which time they will make any necessary changes to the proposal and submit it to Dean of the College James Larimore.
The "Good Samaritan" policy provides some disciplinary protection for students who call 911 or Safety and Security for assistance with intoxicated or impaired students. The policy currently does not guarantee disciplinary immunity for students "whose behavior flagrantly or repeatedly violates the College alcohol policy."
At the core of the recommendations is a proposal to allow each student an unlimited number of "Good Samaritan" calls.
Following each incident, the student will meet with his or her class dean and be able to be referred to the appropriate health resource in lieu of disciplinary consequences. Health resources would include services ranging from educational programs about decision making to personal counseling to long-term treatment, depending on each student's individual circumstances.
The proposal also includes recommendations for an education program to further clarify and inform the community about the "Good Samaritan" policy and where students can call to receive help.
Students using the "Good Samaritan" policy for alcohol-related incidents will never have to go through the disciplinary process, Director of Undergraduate Judicial Affairs April Thompson said. The "Good Samaritan" call will also protect other intoxicated students either calling for help or in the area while Safety and Security retrieves the student in question, she added.
Disciplinary action will be taken, however, for other infractions, such as vandalism, that the student commits at the time of the "Good Samaritan" call.
According to Thompson, the new recommendations have a greater focus on health and safety.
"What this policy addresses is that fear of going through all the disciplinary action," she said. "This policy focuses on the health issues and removes the disciplinary consequences so someone doesn't hesitate to pick up the phone."
While application of the "Good Samaritan" policy does not hinge on using the actual words "Good Samaritan," it is still critical that students either seek assistance from Safety and Security themselves or that another person or organization seeks assistance for them.
A prior disciplinary record will also not affect the ability of a student to use a "Good Samaritan" call.
Students encountered by Safety and Security and not seeking medical assistance will not be able to invoke the policy, however. The policy also does not apply to students arrested by Hanover Police, and even though the proposal includes an unlimited number of Good Samaritan calls, it does not come without a safety net for students.
Those with repeated or severe calls will be referred to medical professionals for help, and the most serious cases may be recommended by their doctors for medical withdrawal and inpatient alcohol treatment, Thompson said. She viewed it as a recommendation the deans would most likely support.
Adam Rauchut '06, who joined the "Good Samaritan" group because of his role as Chi Gamma Epsilon fraternity's social chair, sees the recommendations as an improvement due to their focus on health and medical issues rather than discipline.
"I think it could possibly be a great improvement for the Greek system," Rauchut said.
"It cuts down the judicial process for fraternities if they call in a 'Good Sam.' and thus it should encourage them to use it more frequently."
Rauchut and Thompson will be presenting the policy recommendations to the Greek community over the next week as part of the outreach the group is doing to receive community feedback on the changes.
In addition to the Greek organizations and Student Assembly, the proposal will be presented to undergraduate advisors, community directors, the first year office, Counseling and Human Development, the drug and alcohol peer advisors and Paleopitus Senior Society.
It will also be available on the Judicial Affairs website and BlitzMail bulletin. Students can provide feedback to any of the group members or by blitzing "Good Sam."
After receiving suggestions from the community, the group will revise the proposal if necessary and then submit it to Larimore for review and approval. Thompson said she would like to have approval by the end of the term.
"It would be really great if we could end the term knowing what we were going to do and when it is going to start," Thompson said.
Kirsten Murray '07, who was part of the initial Student Assembly group that investigated the "Good Samaritan" policy and submitted recommendations to Larimore, has an extended vision of what the policy changes will mean in the number of "Good Samaritans" for the campus.
"Ideally for me, I would like to see an increase and then, in the very long term, a decrease as students get the help that they need," Murray said.
