Dear Editor,
As three staff members who work very closely with alcohol issues on campus, we were concerned by the editorial in Tuesday's edition of The DePauw. While the editorial points out the new Lifeline Law in Indiana that became effective last summer to protect those who call for help for someone in danger from alcohol consumption, this has been the practice of DePauw for many years. Students who call for help for their friends are not charged through Community Standards. This past fall we specifically outlined this practice in the Student Handbook through the Safe Community Clause. We have seen very positive outcomes from educating students about calling for help. During the fall semester alone over half of the calls for help for an intoxicated student were from a friend.
Where the editorial falls short is that the Safe Community Clause also applies to organizations that call for help for an overly intoxicated guest, provided that the organization has not created an environment deemed to be unsafe for guests. A host organization has a responsibility to maintain a safe environment. This is a responsibility that the organization takes on when opening its doors to guests in all situations, but particularly when the organization chooses to provide alcohol to its guests. Safety plans should include calling for help when it appears that either a guest or member of the organization has had too much to drink. Though the Greek Life Coordinators have communicated with chapter leadership about the Safe Community Clause, its application has yet to be tested as none of our calls for help have come directly from organizational leadership or social hosts of an event this year.
Creating a safer campus is the responsibility of all DePauw community members. Individuals who choose to drink alcohol have a responsibility to make safer choices. Organizations that choose to provide alcohol have a responsibility to create safer party atmospheres. And there is a responsibility on everyone's part to call for help when someone needs it. We hope that health and safety are always the number one concern.
Meggan Johnston
Director of Community Standards
PJ Mitchell
Greek Life Coordinator and Coordinator of
Alcohol Initiatives
Julia Sutherlin
Director of Student Life