The Good Samaritan Policy, designed to give a one-time disciplinary break to students involved in an alcohol-related medical emergency, was recently put into effect. It drew mixed reactions from administrative figures and the student body.

Designed to protect students involved in alcohol-related incidents on campus who need to call the authorities. Under the policy, no charges will be brought up against the student who made the call, but they will be required to complete an educational program.

“It’s not a get-out-of-jail-free card,” said Ed Wolf, Student Government President. “It’s designed for people that do the right thing. We want to make sure that [students] don’t have to think twice about getting help for their friends.”

“I am highly in favor of it,” said Dawn M. Soufleris, the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs. “This policy was the result of a campus-wide alcohol task force that met for over a year during 2007. After it has been in effect for one year, we will re-examine [the policy] and make sure the wording is what works for our campus.”

“Students will like this, because they get only a warning for something they shouldn’t be doing in the first place,” said Joseph Wong, a second year Biotechnology major. “This is a good policy, because once is enough. You give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile.”

The 2008-2009 fall quarter Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook will include this new policy. “We may also ask the FYE program to include it somewhere in their curriculum,” said Soufleris. “We will incorporate it into our alcohol education program, SpiRITs, which we do for all incoming students, as well as active student groups.”