University Officials Debate Implementing Amnesty Policy

It was only three weeks into his freshman year at the University of Colorado at Boulder, on Sept. 16, 2004, when Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. and 26 other Chi Psi fraternity pledges were blindfolded during "bid night" and taken into the woods. Lined up around a bonfire, they were told to drink 1.75 liters of whiskey and 1.5 liters of wine in 30 minutes.

Upon returning to the frat house, Bailey passed out on the couch. No one called for help.
Ten hours later, he was found dead, face down on the floor.

An estimated 1,700 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related accidents, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

That's 65 deaths for every week that school is in session. Yet some students say harsher punishments that have been implemented by universities to curb alcohol abuse are actually discouraging those students from seeking help for classmates who drink too much.

At Boston College, 17 students were taken to the infirmary or nearby hospitals on the night of the Akon performance last fall. BC Police Chief Robert Morse calls alcohol misuse the number one problem on campus.

About 900 alcohol-related incidents resulted in disciplinary charges at BC last year, some involving multiple students, said Paul Chebator, senior associate dean for student development. That number represented three quarters of all the disciplinary cases initiated last year by BC officials.

 The Office of the Dean for Student Development (ODSD) published the details of BC's drug and alcohol policy last fall. It perscribes a series of disciplining actions for any student found to be drinking underage, providing other underage students with alcohol, possessing large quantities of alcohol, or requiring medical attention after drinking excessively.

Students say they're intimidated by the threat of such punishments, and that they would likely try to handle alcohol-related situations on their own instead of calling for help. Some say they would also hesitate to contact the BCPD in an emergency.

"Calling BCPD would definitely be my last resort," said Heather Ciganek, A&S' 10. "I always felt like I could handle alcohol-related situations on my own. Why would we risk getting in trouble by calling BCPD if we could just take care of it?"

Don Camelio, alcohol education program administrator said the reason students are hesitant to contact the BCPD is that they don't know when a friend may be in need of medical attention or help from trained experts.

"Data indicates that our students struggle with knowing the signs and symptoms of an alcohol-related emergency or alcohol poisoning," Camelio said. "They do not know when a friend requires medical intervention or when they may be able to simply sleep off the effects of the alcohol."

Like many universities trying to reduce alcohol-related accidents, BC's Alcohol and Drug Education Program has tried to find new ways to increase alcohol awareness. One is by posting signs in dorm rooms listing the warning signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning. Students are also provided with options of what to do in case of an emergency, such as contacting BCPD.

Dubbed "the matrix," one of the most common criticisms of the University's drug and alcohol disciplinary policy is that punishments will be enforced even if a student is in a desperate situation and requires help. Many students say it's unfair if those who ask for help from BCPD are penalized.

"There should be no punishment if someone's life is in severe danger," Eric Zisk, A&S ‘10, said. "It discourages kids from seeking help and then things could end badly."
The amnesty policy the University is now considering would shield students from consequences in emergency cases when they call for help. Last spring, administrators convened focus groups composed of groups of students to get feedback on the idea.
"This is a debate that has been going on with all universities. There are lots of layers with this issue," said Brent Ericson, the ODSD associate dean of community standards.
Ericson said no sanction could ever be worse than the death of a student and that students should always seek help for friends and peers.

"We're here to help, and there may be a false perception that we, BCPD, or the RAs are out to get the students," Ericson said. "We are an educational system. When students get in trouble, we don't call it punishment. We call them sanctions, which help remove the barrier that will hinder a student's education and help them not to make the same mistake twice."

Brittany Lewis, A&S '11,  felt confused and uncomfortable taking care of a classmate who had too much to drink. "I really do think that the fear of consequences prevents students from calling BCPD in emergencies," Lewis said. "When I was a freshman, I was taking care of a girl that I knew to be very drunk, and I did not call the police because I did not want her to get in trouble."

Morse conceded that police on and off campus "have strained relations with students. When you need an officer, it is a positive experience. When the officer is taking enforcement action according to the law, rules, and regulations or policy, it can be seen as a negative experience."

He said campus police are not out to get students in trouble. "BCPD officers go out of their way not to arrest BC students because it can affect them for the rest of their lives. We choose to use the University systems over the courts."

This article was reported for Jon Marcus' Advanced Journalism class.