A medical amnesty policy and explicit cyberbullying language will be added to Syracuse University’s Code of Student Conduct.

Student Association President Dylan Lustig said a medical amnesty policy, first proposed three years ago, will be put into effect at SU, although not immediately. The policy encourages students to call officials if they are in need of help in drug- or alcohol-related emergencies.

The policy will make it so those in the Office of Judicial Affairs will reprimand the individual in need of medical attention on his or her first offense. On the second offense, the individual will be put on probation by the university and a third offense will result in suspension, Lustig said.

The individual who contacts officials will not face charges, Lustig said. The caller will only have to be spoken to by Judicial Affairs.

Under the current policy, students found violating codes could face sanctions for the use or possession of alcohol when they are drinking underage or displaying public intoxication.

The sanctions for the first violation of those actions, currently in the student handbook, include residential probation or a community involvement referral.

The Code of Student Conduct will also be amended to include the exact word ‘cyberbullying’ in the harassment section, said Taylor Carr, SA chief of staff.

‘This means people will know this will not be tolerated,’ Carr said.

He said he and Lustig were notified of these future changes this past week. SA members are unsure of the exact dates the medical amnesty policy and cyberbullying wording will be put into effect.

rebarill@syr.edu

 

Published on February 20, 2012 at 12:00 pm