Choose Responsibility

Earlier this week, Joan Pham of the Independent Collegian, the University of Toledo’s student newspaper, covered a new effort by the school’s Student Senate to push for a statewide medical amnesty policy. Mark D’Apolito, the student senator who used a recent medical amnesty bill in Michigan as a model for his resolution, told the Collegian that safety is his primary concern: “This would reduce some of the dangers associated with underage drinking by freshmen and sophomores. This issue should be of great concern to many campuses across the state. [An amnesty policy] would save lives and encourage students to get help before it becomes a dire situation.”

What are your thoughts on these amnesty proposals? Let us know in the comments.

Over the weekend, Mark Norris of the Dallas Morning News profiled Patrick Kobler, the student body president at Southern Methodist University, for a story about Kobler’s new “Mustangs Who Care” alcohol education program. The program teaches participants about the signs of alcohol poisoning, the University’s amnesty policy, and national statistics on binge drinking. Students also receive more formal and in-depth training through TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures).

Once they have completed the various elements of the education program, students receive wristbands, and are encouraged to attend social events where they will be able to assist in the case of an alcohol-related emergency.

Kobler characterized the program, which launched in October, as one that encourages “realistic responsibility.” What do you think about this new campaign?