Purdue University on Tuesday announced a new policy that waives or lessens disciplinary action for students who report someone who needs medical attention as a result of alcohol consumption.
With the move, Purdue joins Ball State and about 100 other colleges in the country with similar medical amnesty policies.
The medical amnesty policy is aimed at making sure those who are hurt while intoxicated or suffer from alcohol poisoning don't hesitate to get help, school officials said in announcing the PurdueCARES plan Tuesday.
"The way I look at it is, it provides a peace of mind to students," associate dean of students Jeffery Stefancic told the Journal & Courier. "They are fearful if they made poor choices with alcohol that to call police or medical staff, they don't want to get someone in trouble."
Michael Gillilan, director of Student Rights and Community Standards at Ball State, calls it a good decision.
"It's like a good samaritan policy," he said. "The intention is to assist them."
The phrases are interchangeable, according to the U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention.
"Generally speaking, the policies provide protection from campus sanctions for violating [alcohol and other drug] policies for the individual, bystanders who seek assistance for the intoxicated student and campus organizations who call for help for a member or guest, according to the group."
Purdue's initiative was temporarily approved by its president, France Cordova, and will include an online tutorial for incoming students about the dangers of alcohol.
Purdue's University Senate will discuss this fall whether to support making the medical amnesty policy permanent, but campus Police Chief John Cox, and West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis have both come out in favor of it.
Brad Krites, who was student government president for the 2010-11 school year, said he believed the initiative will help the long-term health and safety of those on the nearly 40,000-student campus.
"This policy aims to change the culture around alcohol consumption at Purdue, but education is also essential," he said.
The school's policy doesn't exempt student organizations from disciplinary action if they are found to have violated state law or university regulations, but the willingness of members to seek medical help for others could lessen the punishment.
Stefancic said he didn't know about any instances where a student didn't seek medical help out of fear of getting in trouble.
"But anecdotally, you hear stories from students and you know you could be more proactive," he said.
-The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
