To the Editor:
The Good Samaritan guideline was designed to encourage students to seek help by unquestioningly granting protection from the disciplinary consequences of the college's drug and alcohol policy. Having sat on the committee and been a part of the policy's redrafting, I know that the policy should apply and has been applied to any case in which the intention of the student is to seek help. This is the guiding principle of the current policy, and is clearly expressed by Acting Dean of the College Daniel Nelson in "Clarifying the Good Samaritan policy" (Oct. 30). The students' actions in this Kappa case, as we know them, would naturally warrant the application of this policy for all students involved.
However, in "Applying the Good Samaritan Policy" (Oct. 27), there are several unfortunate misunderstandings of the policy espoused by the Editorial Board of The Dartmouth. What The Dartmouth Editorial Board, and surely others, fail to consider is that which, on the surface, makes the policy seem "subjective" -- the Good Samaritan policy does not exempt students or organizations from disciplinary action with respect to other (non-alcohol) offenses such as hazing, sexual assault, or other violations of college policy. In this particular situation, there are certainly complicating factors and the alleged possibility of a violation of another college policy, which might, to some -- especially those who do not fully understand the guideline -- seem to evidence "case-by-case" decision-making.
The "set of objective guidelines" that The Dartmouth Editorial Board calls for very plainly describes the Good Samaritan policy; it can be found on pages 100-101 of the Student Handbook. Furthermore, if there is ever any confusion or doubt of the policy or its implications, one must go no further than contacting their UGA, one of the students involved in the redrafting of the policy, or April Thompson of the Office of Undergraduate Judicial Affairs.
The onus is on the community and its individuals to familiarize themselves with all college rules and regulations, but especially with the Good Samaritan policy, which should continue to play an important role in ensuring the health and safety of students.
