Elmore questions necessity of amnesty, Union remains optimistic

After discussing the Student Union’s medical amnesty proposal with about 15 Boston University administrators, Union President Matt Seidel said he is optimistic that policy change is achievable this semester.

This comes after Union members expressed disappointment with the administration at the beginning of the semester for being slow to respond to the advocacy group’s policy proposal and petition, which was signed by more than 3,200 BU students supporting medical amnesty last semester.

Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore, who is a critical player in enacting any policy shifts, said he is not sure if changes regarding the school’s alcohol abuse response need to be made.’

‘On some levels, there may be some policy issues that are here, but on a lot of levels this may be more an issue of communication,’ Elmore said. ‘In fact, it might be more than anything about communication.’

The biggest change the Union is proposing would be to create a medical amnesty form. This form would give students seeking medical attention after they or their friend consumed too much alcohol a chance to petition the administration against possible judicial sanctions, such as expulsion or separation from BU housing.

Although Elmore has still not responded to Union’s proposal, Seidel said he thinks the administration is very seriously considering the issue.

‘If [administrators] thought this was only a small group of students who care, then it would be easier for [medical amnesty] to get bogged down in bureaucracy,’ Seidel, a College of Arts and Sciences junior, said. ‘This is taking a very expedient, very fast route.’

Elmore said administrators already treat alcohol abuse on a case-by-case basis and that it is rare for students to be kicked out of housing or school because of one incident.

However, the BU Lifebook vaguely explains: ‘Discipline may include sanctions up to and including expulsion of a student . . . in addition to referral for criminal prosecution.’

‘I think part of what we need to do better as an administration, or what I need to do better as the dean of students, is to make sure that we’re clear with students. ‘Here’s what our policy is, and here’s what our sanctions tend to be,” Elmore said. ”In these specific instances, as it relates to people seeking amnesty for alcohol abuse for them or their friends, here’s how we treat those circumstances.”

This is the sort of transparency that Seidel said will come with medical amnesty. He said while it is laudable that the administration, in all likelihood, treats students fairly, students need to be informed of their rights.

Seidel said the medical amnesty form will give students the comfort of knowing that their BU careers are not likely to end from one blunder, and in turn, should encourage them to seek help instead of fearing the consequences of overconsumption.’

‘[The medical amnesty policy] will take the unofficial policy at BU and make it the official policy,’ Seidel said.’

Though Elmore said BU does not tolerate underage drinking or alcohol abuse, he acknowledged that BU is known as being more stringent than it is in reality. Elmore said he agreed that part of students’ misconception comes from the intimidating presentation that incoming freshmen witness at orientation.’

‘People have a perception that if you drink alcohol on campus, and you are not 21 that we kick you out of school,’ Elmore said. ‘Unfortunately, that’s an extreme view, and I can say that’s pretty far from the facts.’

If it takes a policy change, like medical amnesty, to give students an accurate view of BU’s treatment of alcohol abuse, Elmore said he was willing to make it happen. But he said he is not close to passing any sort of legislation.

Stacy Fontana, the Union’s medical amnesty task force point person, said the Union will be discussing the proposal at the University Council Committee on Student Life and Policies meeting on Feb. 25. If that meeting goes well, Fontana, a CAS and College of Communication junior, said the medical amnesty policy will be closer to the final stage: President Robert Brown’s desk.

In order for the medical policy to advance that far, however, Elmore first needs to review the Union’s proposal.’

‘I’m working on it,’ Elmore said. ‘Hopefully very soon I will be able to hand Matt Seidel something and say, ‘Here’s what I would like to make public to the student body.”