At first glance, it appears that if you are responsible and actively seeking help for yourself, you won't get in trouble. However, it later states that the policy "does not prevent the SMU Police or another police agency from detaining a student, issuing a citation, or making an arrest of they deem that action necessary." So what are students going to do? Are they really going to be any less scared to come forward? While SMU attempts to make the campus a safer place, I find myself constantly wondering if it's really helping. When fraternities have large parties on campus there are harsh consequences, which is understandable, but it only leads them to host parties off campus. Then, it's not just a simple walk to the location, instead everyone must drive. Many people are responsible when drinking and driving, but off campus parties easily allow for those who are not. There's obviously not a simple answer to such a serious problem, but I constantly find myself wondering if it's truly keeping students safer.
read the full "call for help" policy at:
http://blog.smu.edu/forum/2008/09/smu_enacts_medical_amnesty_goo.html
4 comments:
i agree more answers create more problems. The police here are really cracking down and need to relax a bit. good post topic was interested.
It seems that sometimes these efforts to "crack down" can ironically create more problems. Unfortunately, things like this will always go on at college campuses, however instead of students being on campus, they are just doing the same thing off campus. So I guess the question is now is it better to have students on campus where they can walk home or parading around Dallas in the hands of even higher authorities?
There shouldn't even be a problem. Students are going to drink, but the law is what it is. Police "cracking down" is not harsh, it is their job. The authorities have a duty to protect society. If SMU has a policy that allows someone to be exempt because they saved lives, then that is great. Yet, if there are certain circumstances in which police must act to help even more lives, then they must do it. I myself believe that the policy is no more safer than any other policy. The safety issue can only be resolved by standards of those who drink.
From what I have been told more than once, the recent "Amnesty" and "Good Samaritan" policies protect those that responsibly call in for help in a drug or alcohol conflict. For example, say I had a couple of drinks and my friend got too drunk and passed out with irregular breathing at like a frat house. I should be able to call the SMU police without fear of getting myself in trouble, or so that's what I've been told by the administration. So, I'm a bit confused maybe you can get in trouble with the dallas police- the facts are unclear and if they aren't cleared up someone could die from a drunk mistake. And back to the original blog, I agree completely. Now we have off-campus parties or pregame parties. I always get a cab wasting money, but alot of students go in cars. Off-campus parties, although fun, are becoming more prevelant with that of course comes more risks. If i was at an offcampus party and wanted the rules that supposedly apply to SMU, they wouldn't with the dallas cops. Things are unclear and obviously need to change, hopefully resulting in less drug/alcohol abuse. Flexible but safe measures might do some good.
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