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MIT Good Samaritan Policy
and other processes and outcomes associated with alcohol related medical emergencies

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The outcomes and processes developed for this document were created by MIT undergraduate students, staff and other members of the MIT coalition known as the MIT Alcohol & Other Drug Collaborative- Policy Committee.

General policy

Principles

MIT emphasizes that anyone who is experiencing the potentially dangerous effects associated with substance abuse should seek medical attention and treatment. The safety and health of our students is the primary concern. Alcohol intoxication requiring medical attention is first considered a health issue, therefore, the primary Institute response is a medical one. MIT expects students to help each other by promoting moderate and responsible use of alcohol thereby minimizing the incidence of alcohol poisoning. The MIT community acknowledges there may be times when students may face uncertain situations involving excessive drinking. In these situations, students are expected to call for assistance when concerned for the health of another student. Since alcohol related emergencies may be life-threatening, MIT, as a community, established procedures to reduce barriers for seeking help.

For those who call for help

A person who calls for help on another student's behalf will not be subject to disciplinary action unless the situation also involves violent behavior, sexual assault, hazing or other serious conduct issues. It is the obligation of every member within the MIT community when in the presence of a severely intoxicated person to contact medical assistance. This can be done through a Graduate Resident Tutor, Housemaster, Resident Advisor, or gaining medical transport directly by contacting 100 (on campus) or 617-253-1212.

Individuals associated with multiple incidents of serious intoxication

may prompt a higher degree of concern if they are found to create an unsafe environment by continually engaging in or promoting dangerous drinking behavior.

If a student is under 18 years of age

area hospitals may contact the student's parents. MIT Medical normally would not alert a student's parents, unless the clinician believed greater medical/health concerns (i.e. a potentially life threatening situation) may be indicated and additional support would be necessary.

Medical transport

Because the medical transport of a student is likely to be visible and/or discussed within our small community (but not by medical or EMT staff), it is likely that other students, student groups, housemasters, graduate tutors, resident advisors, or some other staff from the department of Student Life may seek contact with a student as a check-in out of concern for the student's health and safety.  Students are encouraged to use or seek out this support system.

In order for this policy to apply, the intoxicated student(s) must agree to timely completion of the confidential medical follow up. Serious or repeated incidents will prompt a higher degree of medical concern. Failure to complete the recommended medical follow-up may result in disciplinary action. Likewise, organizations involved in an incident are expected to complete any recommended actions to address concerns and prevent future incidents.

Minimum MIT Outcomes For Violation Of Mit Alcohol Policy

The outcomes listed in this document describe the typical response to alcohol related policy violations. Additional action may be taken if other unacceptable behavior is combined with the alcohol violation, such as fighting, sexual assault, or other serious misconduct. These circumstances will be reviewed by the Chair of the MIT Committee on Discipline and sanctions may be imposed. The Institute's primary concern is the well-being of students. Failure to participate in the recommended follow up described below will result in additional action, including disciplinary review. Students should also be aware that this policy does not prevent action that may be taken by city or state authorities.

Outcomes for Individuals Involved in an Alcohol-Related Medical Emergency

Violation First Incident Second Incident
For Patient- Intoxicated Individual Including under 21 possession- call for medical help* Confidential, health focused follow up with student. Housemaster, GRT, RLA, RA may also follow up with individual. This health focused response may also occur with students over the age of 21. Coordinated follow up with individual treated, Dean and consultation with a MIT Medical clinician involving an assessment to develop a plan to prevent future incidents. Non-compliance with this plan or if a 3rd incident occurs- the situation will be referred to the office of Community Standards & Student Mediation and possibly to the Committee on Discipline.

Outcomes for Organizational/Living Group Hosts Involved in an Alcohol-related Medical Emergency

These responses apply to both FSILGs and residence halls, graduate and undergraduate, when the event was a house event, or when the living group was culpable. For FSILGs and the residence halls, cases will be deferred to the approved Judicial Committees.  In situations where the intellectual integrity, safety and well being of the campus community may be in question, the Dean of Student Life (or other appropriate Institute officials) may respond and may also take additional action if other factors of the situation fall beyond the scope of the Judicial Committee and/or when additional sanctions are necessary. In a residence hall, sanctions may be imposed on only one floor/entry/other subsection when appropriate.
Call for Help Good Samaritan Policy First Incident Response Second Incident Response
Yes
Call Made By Host 		Party Host calling for help on the behalf of an intoxicated student regardless of possible minor policy violations (e.g. underage possession, provision of alcohol)** Conference with Dean & Alcohol Education including review of policies & social host responsibility and will develop plan to prevent incidents in the future. Conference with Dean; if person(s) are found to create an unsafe environment by continually promoting dangerous drinking behavior- matter referred to Chair of the Committee on Discipline and Office of Student Mediation & Community Standards
Yes
Call Made By Non-Host 		Another student calling for help on the behalf of an intoxicated student regardless of possible minor policy violations (e.g. underage possession, provision of alcohol)** Follow up by Housemasters, GRT, RLA or RA. Conference with Dean;
if person(s) are found to have promoted dangerous drinking behavior- matter referred to Chair of the Committee on Discipline and Office of Student Mediation & Community Standards
No Failure to call on the behalf of a intoxicated student requiring medical attention Matter reviewed by the Chair of the MIT Committee on Discipline and Office of Student Mediation & Community Standards, may be referred to appropriate student JudComm Matter reviewed by the Chair of the MIT Committee on Discipline and Office of Student Mediation & Community Standards
Call for Help Violoations pertaining to organizations First Incident Second Incident Third Incident
Yes Good Samaritan Policy
Help called for medical treatment on the behalf of an intoxicated individual regardless of possible minor policy violations (e.g. underage possession, provision of alcohol to underage individual) 		House officers meet with Dean; Host living group/organization reviews and revises party procedures/risk management plan with MIT administrative staff in order to prevent future incidents. If individual consumed in multiple locations, this is taken into consideration. Incident reviewed by Chair of the Faculty Committee on Discipline and Office of Student Mediation & Community Standards. May be referred to the relevant organizational student judicial committee to determine further action. If the organization is believed to be creating an unsafe environment by continually promoting dangerous drinking behavior- Dry* for 1 year Incident reviewed by Office of Student Mediation & Community Standards with relevant organizational student judicial committee to determine further action. If the organization is believed to be creating an unsafe environment by continually promoting dangerous drinking behavior- Dry* for 2 years
No Failure to call for medical assistance on the behalf of an intoxicated individual requiring medical attention. Incident reviewed by Chair of the Faculty Committee on Discipline and Office of Student Mediation & Community Standards. May be referred to the relevant organizational student judicial committee to determine further action. If individual consumed in multiple locations, this is taken into consideration. Judicial Committee Hearing Judicial Committee Hearing

For those who call for help

An organization who calls for help on another student's behalf will not be subject to disciplinary action unless the situation also involves violent behavior, sexual assault, hazing or other serious conduct issues. House officers will be expected to work with their student governance group and/or a dean to generate a safety plan to prevent similar incidents in the future.

It is the obligation

of every member within the MIT community when in the presence of a severely intoxicated person to contact medical assistance. This can be done through a Graduate Resident Tutor, Housemaster, Resident Advisor, or gaining medical transport directly.

Living groups associated with multiple incidents of serious intoxication-

may prompt a higher degree of concern if they are found to create an unsafe environment by promoting dangerous drinking behavior.

Outcomes for Organizational/Living Group Hosts
Not an Alcohol-related Medical Emergency

Call for Help Violoations pertaining to organizations First Incident Second Incident Third Incident
Under 21 possession, non medical emergency House officers meet with Dean; Incident reviewed by Chair of the Faculty Committee on Discipline and Office of Student Mediation & Community Standards. May be referred to the relevant organizational student judicial committee to determine further action Incident reviewed by Chair of the Faculty Committee on Discipline and Office of Student Mediation & Community Standards. May be referred to the relevant organizational student judicial committee to determine further action Dry for 2 more years & other sanctions as appropriate
House funds used to purchase alcohol or unregistered house event with alcohol Incident reviewed by Chair of the Faculty Committee on Discipline and Office of Student Mediation & Community Standards. May be referred to the relevant organizational student judicial committee to determine further action Social probation for one year Dry for 2 years & other sanctions as appropriate
Refusal to cooperate with investigation by IFC or Campus Police or Dean Social Probation for 6 months Dry for one year Dry for 2 more years & other sanctions as appropriate

The period for counting offenses

Consideration of an individual's, organization's or group's previous offenses during the JudComm's review of a current violation will not exceed the previous four years. This time period begins once the previous sanction period has ended.

These are minimum sanctions.

Failure to comply with sanctions imposed may result in more severe sanctions.

Definitions

Social probation:
No alcohol at house events and no large event with over 1-to-1 ratio of members to guests.
Dry:
No alcohol whatsoever, including in private rooms.

* A distinction is made depending upon the way the minor policy violation becomes known to the administration. If it is known only because medical treatment was sought for the student, then the first offense is treated as a medical, not disciplinary, matter for that individual. If, on the other hand, it is known by other means (including, but not limited to, complaints about a loud party or direct observation by someone in authority), then it is reviewed as a disciplinary matter.

** Providing includes buying and/or serving alcohol to another person who is under 21. If the person who provided the alcohol is the one to call for help, the penalty will be considerably reduced or canceled.

©2007. MIT Community Development & Substance Abuse Center. cdsa [at] mit [dot] edu.