The goal of the Good Samaritan provision is simple: help prevent serious harm to students who made a bad decision. Underage drinking has long been well ingrained into collegiate society. Time and time again, attempts to prevent students from partaking in such activities have caused students to fear calling for help when a fellow student has consumed dangerous amounts of alcohol. While drinking in such excess is by no means responsible or acceptable, it is equally irresponsible to discourage students from seeking help in such a situation because potential penalties could be hanging over the heads of first-time offenders.
College serves both as an academic and social learning environment. By giving students and organizations one free pass when helping a person in need of medical assistance, students will have the obvious option and feel safer when facing a situation that they have not found themselves in. Hopefully, the provision will allow students to learn from the unfortunate experience without major physical harm.
This policy is sensible in its endeavors, and students must be made aware of it. Interfraternity Council and other student organizations need to take the time to explain the nature of the policy and the reasoning behind it. If students are unaware of the policy, then it is useless. The administration should also consider other policies that encourage safer behavior in light of poor decision making.
Ultimately, though, the effectiveness of this policy lies with the students. If students make the wise decision to be safe in social situations, then there would no need for this policy to begin with. The student body as a whole must work to make the policy obsolete through the encouragement of responsible behavior. But until that time comes, students must not hesitate to seek medical assistance for their friend when needed.