STUDENTS PROPOSE REFORMED DRUG POLICY

If a new student-driven proposal passes, Columbia students calling for
help in emergencies related to drugs or alcohol will no longer have to
fear punishment.

The Columbia chapter of the Students for Sensible Drug Policy-an
international organization that pushes for reforms in drug policies-is
currently circulating a proposal through the student councils that
would allow students to ask Columbia University Emergency Medical
Services-commonly known as CAVA-for support in drug-related situations
without the threat of Dean's Discipline.

Columbia is the only Ivy League school that has not adopted a "Good
Samaritan" policy, which advocates like Katharine Celentano, GS and a
member of SSDP, say will curb the consequences of alcohol poisoning
and drug overdose.

"It's very important that it's clearly stated that people aren't going
to get in trouble," Celentano, an author of the proposal, said.
"Making that life-saving call is all about the psychology of the
moment."

Currently, students discovered during a CAVA call to be in violation
of the University's drug or alcohol policy by Public Safety or
Residential Life can be issued a citation or face the Dean's
Discipline process, Andrew Nguyen, CC '12 and VP of policy for the
Columbia College Student Council, said. Student groups hosting the
party may also face repercussions.

"Right now the policy is pretty vague," Celentano said.

CCSC recently voted unanimously in support of the proposal-which would
grant clemency to students involved in emergency situations-and the
Engineering Student Council followed suit on Monday.

Celentano said the proposal aims to protect four entities: the student
in need of medical assistance, the students who made the call, anyone
in the immediate vicinity, and the student organization that might be
hosting the event where drugs or alcohol are being used.

"Each of those components are very important because any one of them
could prevent someone from calling," she said.

Nguyen said that the current practice is ambiguous-someone who has
been transported by CAVA is required to meet with Health Services
after the fact for a discussion.

Cristen Kromm, assistant dean for community development and
residential programs, said that Public Safety and CAVA attend to a
call together and after assessing the situation, the residential
advisor on duty is required to file a report.

Nguyen said, "We hear instances all the time where someone might be
passed out and their friends aren't sure how intoxicated they are but
instead of calling for help, they usually just say let them sleep it
off," said Nguyen, also an author of the proposal.

Nguyen and Celentano said that even though they haven't heard of any
deaths from alcohol poisoning or drug overdoses at Columbia in recent
memory, they hope this proposal will stop that from happening.

"We wanted to write this as a preventative measure before something
tragic happens at Columbia," Nguyen said.

Celentano said SSDP's next stop is Dean Kromm's office, where they
will explain the merits of the proposal to her and Jeri Henry, the
senior assistant dean of judicial affairs and community standards, who
will decide whether or not to adopt the policy change.

"It's a very commonsense policy," Celentano said. "We're trying to
give the University an opportunity to show they support student
health."