College adopts Good Samaritan Clause for drugs, alcohol

Jen Dixon Contributing Editor

At the end of last semester, the Committee on College Life, a committee consisting of students, faculty, and administrators that addresses student life concerns not directly related to academics, introduced a “Good Samaritan Clause” to its rules on parties, drugs, and alcohol at Vassar.

The new clause encourages any student who is dangerously intoxicated to seek medical assistance, stating that “no student seeking medical treatment for his or her alcohol or other drug-related overdose, or assisting another student in obtaining such medical treatment, will be subject to College discipline for the sole violation of using alcohol or drugs or of providing alcohol or drugs to the student they have assisted in obtaining treatment.”

"We'd heard about students not calling for medical service because they don't want to get in trouble, they don't want their parents to find out...they don't want to get thrown out," said Associate Dean of the College Raymon Parker, who sits on the Committee on College Life. The clause is meant to lessen the apprehension of those students who may hesitate to contact security or Emergency Medical Services.

When the Committee discussed the new clause last semester, the "concern was there...about 'is this going to send the message to students that the College condones underage drinking or illegal drug use?' The message is that we want students to never to have their health in jeopardy," said Parker.

"This doesn't change the way EMS currently works...[the student EMTs] were very valuable to the Committee as students and as EMTs,” said Parker.

The clause may increase the extent to which students consider security to be an additional resource now that the likelihood of disciplinary action is reduced. "There used to be a disciplinary action coming out of medical calls, but now there will not be,” said Parker. “Students will be required to do a follow-up visit with health services...we are primarily concerned with the care of students.”

The Good Samaritan Clause includes a stipulation that students whose involvement with drugs and alcohol constitute a crime will not receive immunity from disciplinary action. This relates specifically to “those found guilty of dealing drugs or supplying,” according to Parker.
Parker hopes that statistics will eventually indicate an impact. "I expect that at the end of this year, we'll look at the numbers [of whose been calling] and see what effect this has had," said Parker.

Additional reporting by Rachel Wolff, Editor In Chief