Understanding our college’s medical amnesty policy

The outcomes of college drinking include injury, sexual assault, and even death. Over 1,800 student deaths are attributed to drinking across college campuses. Particularly, binge-drinking is rampant across all types of colleges and universities, and Muhlenberg is no exception. While my impression of Muhlenberg is not one of a revered party school, I acknowledge that a fair amount of both underage drinking and binge drinking occurs on our campus. While my intention of this article is not to deter any and all consumption of alcohol on campus, it is to increase awareness and understanding of a policy in our student handbook designed to protect our student body from the medical emergencies resulting from the influence of alcohol and other drugs—the Medical Amnesty Policy. Both comprehension and utilization of this policy by the student body to protect one another is essential—but stigma and police citations inhibit the full implementation and understanding of this policy.

The Medical Amnesty Policy is designed to protect the health and wellbeing of students and to encourage students to look out for the wellbeing of others. In order to encourage students to call when they or a peer are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs that jeopardize the student’s health, the Medical Amnesty Policy protects the student(s) from any infractions against the Student Alcohol Policy and Drug Use and Controlled Substance Policy. The policy particularly applies to students calling medical services for other students and is not applicable when college staff find a student under the influence.

Students on campus appear cognizant of the general ideas of Muhlenberg’s Medical Amnesty Policy, but do not seem to be aware of its exact intricacies. To clarify the policy, students can call for help when they are under the influence of alcohol and other drugs without fear of charges by Muhlenberg. Furthermore, the section of the policy most students don’t seem to understand and remain wary of is that students can call for help for an intoxicated friend while they themselves are intoxicated, and neither will be charged under the Student Alcohol Policy and Drug Use and Controlled Substance Policy. Students truly are encouraged by this policy to care and account for their friends and I value and admire it extensively for valuing the health and wellbeing of students, as the policy aims to do. It may seem counter intuitive, but the safest thing you can do even if you’re both under the influence is to call for help.

Notably, a detail of the policy over-looked by most and the detail which I question is the eighth section of the policy, which addresses how it does not excuse or protect students who repeatedly violate the Student Alcohol Policy and Drug Use and Controlled Substance Policy. Such cases are therefore subject to “appropriate action under the College’s Social Code...taken on a case-by case-basis,” as described in the Medical Amnesty Policy. My chief objection is to this particular guideline—what if a student who was previously excused by our Medical Amnesty Policy, such as when their friend called for them, is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs when they need to call for another friend? While I want to assume the best in others and hope students would do the right thing and call regardless of the possible impending charges, it is not safe to merely make an assumption when the lives and future medical conditions of students are at stake. The trouble is, the language in this section is purposely vague.

Closely associated with this policy is the connection to the Allentown Police Department; the Medical Amnesty Policy does exempt students from legal implications and therefore students can (and do) receive citations for underaged drinking. I would be remiss if I did not address the stigma also connected with calling for help. Regardless of this policy, my heart hurts from the myriad of horror stories I have heard about students not calling for help, and consequently, leaving friends on various areas of campus—including the lawn by Victor’s Lament and the Baker Center for the Arts. There should not be shame or hesitation to call for help when the lives of others are at stake and the policy exists to cover and protect students from the implications of also being under the influence. I hope this explanation of both the coverage and limitations of this policy expands the understanding of the policy on our campus, as well as its usage.