One weekend night four years ago, a university freshman lay unresponsive at an off-campus party after vomiting due to alcohol consumption.
Friends of the student, who do not wish to be named, argued over whether or not to call 911.One partygoer eventually decided to contact emergency services out of fear for the young woman's health.
Knowing that based on university policy, the student would receive two strikes for going to the hospital, her friends decided to hide her to elude emergency services and ensure the student would not be subject to judicial penalties.
"We knew there would be university consequences and didn't think it was worth her getting in trouble," the student's friend said. "We didn't think she was as drunk as she was."
Two hours later, emergency services located the student, who was still unconscious, and transported her to Christiana Hospital. Upon arrival, her blood alcohol content was .35, which is equivalent to one's BAC level under surgical anesthesia.
In order to avoid occurrences like this and to ensure student safety takes precedent over fear of judicial consequences, the university has adopted the medical amnesty policy.
Effective in the fall, individuals seeking medical attention due to their level of intoxication will not face sanctions by the Office of Judicial Affairs. Additionally, students who assist individuals seeking medical attention will also not be subject to judicial sanctions.
Previously, the university had a two strike policy for students who were taken to the hospital due to intoxication. Now, instead of judicial sanctions, individuals who seek medical attention, and possibly those who accompany them, will need to meet with a member of the Dean of Students Office, who may issue requirements such as alcohol education or an alcohol assessment and will likely contact the individual's parents or legal guardian.
The medical amnesty policy will not be considered in situations where students do not seek medical assistance.
Dean of Students George W. Brelsford III said the change is being put into place so students can seek treatment for alcohol related emergencies without fear of judicial repercussions in order to do what's most beneficial for the student body from a health standpoint
"What were trying to do is encourage students to call," Brelsford said. "When they think that they should call rather than to be hesitant because they're worried about getting everybody in trouble - they don't want to get in trouble themselves, they don't want their friend to get in trouble, if somebody already has one violation of policy this might wind up in them getting suspended - we wanted to take that out of the equation entirely."
He said the change is occurring to ensure students feel no uncertainty or indecision about whether or not to seek medical attention for a friend in need.
"We don't want students being so afraid that someone they're going to get in trouble that someone dies or suffers some other kind of permanent injury," Brelsford said.
He also said this change was born out of a suggestion from the Student Government Association.
SGA President Teagan Gregory said in fall 2007, several students posed a procedural change that would allow students to call for a friend in need without fear of judicial actions. He said he is very pleased with the change in procedure.
"This is exactly what we were looking for," Gregory said. "In fact, we came together for a meeting at the beginning of the semester to touch base with where the students were and where the administration was in terms of this policy. We sat there with the same facts in front of us and came to the same conclusions separately. We were really on the same page."
He said he does not believe students seek medical attention for alcohol related incidents as often as they should.
"I hope that anytime anyone gets overly drunk or drunk to the point that people feel the situation is dangerous, I hope that they call," Gregory said. "I hope that those call numbers go up because I don't think they're indicative of what's happening on campus."
He said he anticipates the policy change will result in a change in the behavior of students at the university.
"Hopefully, we're going to be able to encourage more people to call for a friend in need because right now, I feel that students are afraid to call to get their friend in trouble or afraid to have a friend call for them and get them in trouble," Gregory said. "People avoid that and hopefully this will encourage people to call and be responsible."
Many students were receptive to the change in procedure.
Sophomore Samantha Guerrero said she thinks this change will encourage a safer campus since people will feel more comfortable seeking medical attention.
"I think that's great that they're doing that," Guerrero said. "There have actually been instances that I have been really sick. It was actually me and my roommate were really sick and throwing up and the only reason we didn't go to the health center was because we already had strikes…My mom even told me, 'Don't go the health center you can't get another strike.' "
Sophomore Jeremiah Cook, who said he has witnessed fellow students avoiding seeking medical attention to avoid judicial repercussions, said he thinks the change is for the best.
"I think that would definitely encourage people to go seek help for friends if they need it since getting in trouble is what discourages people from seeking help in the first place," Cook said.
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