When Crystal Varkalis’ friend died two years ago from a drug overdose, she wanted to make sure his memory would always stay with her by getting a tattoo in his honor.
[…] Varkalis, who was appointed vice president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy last semester, is only one of the many university students who are continuing to fight for a permanent and concrete Good Samaritan policy that would shield students seeking help for friends who have overdosed on drugs or alcohol.
“When it comes to someone losing their life, their friends and family close to them would trade anything – like amnesty for the friends who were with them to not get in trouble – for that person getting their life back,” she said.
But administrators argue sufficient protection is already in place.
In April 2009, the University Senate voted to approve the implementation of the Responsible Action protocol – which allows students to call 911 for a friend, themselves or someone else who is drunk without fear of immediate university sanctions. The cases are dealt with on an individual basis by the Office of Student Conduct.
Last fall, 30 students who called for help received reprieve under the protocol and 24 did not. In the spring, 15 were protected and 15 were not, Office of Student Conduct Director John Zacker said, noting that most students who weren’t included under the protocol likely had prior disciplinary infractions that exempted them from protection.
[…] The Office of Student Conduct finished up a year-long test period analysis of the protocol over the summer and delivered a report to the University Senate student conduct committee last week, stating there wasn’t enough evidence from the first year to support a policy implementation.
Read the full story at the Maryland Diamondback.
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