Panel debates future of medical amnesty

By Annie Cheung

While Monday's student debate voiced opinions both in favor and in opposition of a medical amnesty policy, it could still be months before it comes to fruition, if at all.

Currently, Santa Clara does not have a medical amnesty policy. If a student who has been drinking calls for EMT assistance to aid an intoxicated student, both individuals will have committed a high-risk offense under Santa Clara's present alcohol guidelines. A high-risk offense includes a judicial sanction, a $50 fine, educational requirements and parental notification.

Under the proposed medical amnesty policy, the intoxicated student would receive a free pass the first time a call is made on his or her behalf, with educational requirements and a talk with their residential director. The student who places the call would be given immunity in every instance.

Associated Students President Sean Brachvogel, former Dunne Hall community facilitator Endalk Yitref and senior Kari Kjos spoke on a panel Monday to an audience of nearly thirty students and five staff members in the Bronco to discuss the pros and cons of implementing a medical amnesty policy, with Kurt Wagner, editor-in-chief of The Santa Clara newspaper, moderating.

After their own comments on the subject, the floor was opened to audience members to voice their own opinions.

Brachvogel, who is in favor of the proposed policy, has been working to establish medical amnesty at Santa Clara for the past few years. "I pushed for the most liberal medical amnesty policy, but the entire Board of Trustees may not be for it," he said.

He claims that the current policy causes more problems because it keeps everything underground.

Kjos was more skeptical about the medical amnesty's potential success, claiming that it might drive the drinking rate to increase.

"We need to look at the big picture: will it make students more responsible or irresponsible?"she said.

Yitref showed support for medical amnesty, asserting that it could only help with the number of alcohol related incidents. "No matter how many posters I put up, no matter what I did, they're still going to drink," he said of his experiences as a community facilitator in Dunne. "This will give students a choice to make that phone call and possibly save someone's life."

Kjos countered, saying Santa Clara should encourage students to help others out of compassion, even when their personal interests are at stake.

"The right choice isn't always the easy choice," she said.

Senior Mollie Eshelman, the president of peer health education, is in favor of medical amnesty.

"I think it's a really good idea," she said. "Its important to realize the decision is as simple as 'Is this person going to die' versus me getting in trouble."

Junior Conor Merritt, vice president of global medical brigades and EMT, was also in support of the plan.

"I just think it promotes more responsibility in students," he said. "The worst that could happen is a few kids drink a little bit more, but we are also able to help those kids. I don't really see any downside in having it."

Jeanne Rosenberger, the vice provost for student life and dean of students, said that the policy still has much revision to undergo before it reaches the Board of Trustees, who will make the final decision. "There will be much more dialogue with the undergraduate classes so we have a good, broad perspective from students," she said.

Brachvogel is not confident that the policy will be in place any time this year. "I'm working really, really hard for next fall," he said. "It would help if there were many more students who were passionate about it. I've got a few key administrators on my side for this, but it will really depend on how much support we can get," he said.

Contact Annie Cheung at (408) 554-4546 or accheung@scu.edu.