MSA candidates support 'Good Samaritan' policy
The Department of Student Life never approved the alcohol policy.
Published Nov. 4, 2005
Both slates in this year's Missouri Students Association presidential election support a plan to make an informal university policy for campus alcohol violations permanent.
The "Good Samaritan" policy would allow a student to escape punishment for alcohol use on campus if that student called for help in a dangerous situation, such as alcohol poisoning.
The MSA Senate passed a resolution last year supporting the policy after former MSA senator Matt Sokoloff proposed it. The proposal was then passed on to the Department of Student Affairs and the Department of Residential Life. Neither department adopted the formal policy.
"The individuals may be asked to meet with a member of the Wellness Resource Center, but no formal judicial action should be taken against the individuals in need, not the persons reporting the incident unless the individuals involved demonstrate a repeated lack of care concerning their well-being and the well-being of the campus community," the resolution stated.
Residential Life Director Frankie Minor said he understands the intention of the resolution but feels the policy already Jedd Rosche
Staff Writer
Both slates in this year's Missouri Students Association presidential election support a plan to make an informal university policy for campus alcohol violations permanent.
The "Good Samaritan" policy would allow a student to escape punishment for alcohol use on campus if that student called for help in a dangerous situation, such as alcohol poisoning.
The MSA Senate passed a resolution last year supporting the policy after former MSA senator Matt Sokoloff proposed it. The proposal was then passed on to the Department of Student Affairs and the Department of Residential Life. Neither department adopted the formal policy.
"The individuals may be asked to meet with a member of the Wellness Resource Center, but no formal judicial action should be taken against the individuals in need, not the persons reporting the incident unless the individuals involved demonstrate a repeated lack of care concerning their well-being and the well-being of the campus community," the resolution stated.
Residential Life Director Frankie Minor said he understands the intention of the resolution but feels the policy already is practiced and did not need to be formalized.
"We are already taking student behavior into consideration," Minor said. "It's not a get-out-of-jail-free card because we feel that part of the educational process was students being held accountable for their actions."
Minor said unless there are "extenuating circumstances," his department usually gives students a warning or a referral to an alcohol-education course taught by students.
"For students to be removed from campus because of alcohol, it would have to be a very serious offense," Minor said.
Sokoloff said he wrote the resolution after he lost his job as a peer adviser when he was involved in an incident with alcohol in the summer of 2004.
Sokoloff said he and six other people where drinking in a residence hall room when someone passed out.
"She grew extremely pale and her lips turned blue," Sokoloff said.
When he suggested they call an ambulance, the remaining five students left, fearing they would get in trouble.
Sokoloff said that after seeing his friends' reactions, he worried about students in similar situations hesitating before calling for help.
Sokoloff admitted that a formal statute only would be a small change, but he said it would be a safety net for students.
"This policy actually wouldn't change much, but it would be in writing," Sokoloff said.
MSA presidential candidates Davie Holt and John Andersen have promised to work to enact the policy.
"What Taylor (McKinney) and I are trying to do is get this bill published and bring it some publicity," Holt said. "If nobody knows anything about it, the policy will be of no use."
McKinney is Holt's running mate.
Andersen signed the proposal last year when he was chairman of the Student Affairs Committee.
"If elected, I will work tirelessly to see this policy implemented," he said.
But administrators indicated that a formal policy is unnecessary.
"Your chances of doing the right thing and getting removed from a residence hall or suspended from school are pretty slim, unless you are a repeat offender," said Cathy Scroggs, vice chancellor for student affairs.
Supporters of the policy said it would not apply to repeat offenders.
The resolution passed by MSA does not apply to situations in which students who forced another to drink call the police or to situations involving hazing or drugs, Sokoloff said.
"I don't know if we need this in writing," Scroggs said. "We have a Student Court. We have a great system of checks and balances."
Despite administrators' opposition, both candidates said they would continue to push for the policy to be stated in writing.
"When it comes up against opposition, what's important is that we have to keep pushing for it," Andersen said. "There's no reason to back off. It's been done in other places, so we know it can be done here."
Holt said if the policy is being followed, students should know.
"If they're saying that it's already being practiced, then it's more about awareness," Holt said.
Holt said he would work for a formal policy by meeting with administrators.