Confusion arises over medical amnesty

While the Tulane University Police Department cracks down on alcohol violations around campus, administrators are working to ensure that students still feel comfortable calling Tulane Emergency Medical Services.

Earlier this year, TUPD issued citations to TEMS callers and bystanders. They stopped, however, and have reverted back to their previous policy of only writing police reports.

Erica Woodley, assistant dean of student affairs and case management, said she has spoken to students who received citations after calling TEMS to assist their friends. She has also spoken with students who received citations after receiving treatment. Woodley said that none of those students, however, faced consequences from Student Conduct.

“The citation system is new, and as with any new system, there are kinks to be worked out, but they’re in the process of doing that,” Woodley said.

TEMS Director Elena Berry said that students should not feel discouraged from calling TEMS because they are afraid that they or their friends will get in trouble.

“TUPD was giving citations at the beginning of the year,” Berry said. “However, this practice has been stopped. What is most important is protecting the health of the students, and I am committed to making sure that happens.”

Though Colonel Jack LeBlanc said he has not heard about TEMS callers receiving citations, he said students who are concerned about the manner in which they received citations should contact TUPD.

“In no way are we trying to discourage people from calling in situations where they fear the individual may be in trouble,” LeBlanc said. “And one thing we want to do is make sure they continue to call us and that we do respond to make sure that people are being taken care of properly.”

TUPD, which dispatches TEMS, comes to the scene whenever a student requests medical attention. In these situations, TUPD files police reports detailing the incidents but no longer issues citations at the scene. Still, TUPD will continue to issue citations in situations in which officers come across alcohol violations on campus.

“If we were called to the scene by a friend or a roommate and we respond to the call, and the person is either intoxicated or in possession of alcohol, we will not write a citation because the call was called in by a friend, concerned person or roommate,” LeBlanc said. “If the person is seen on campus stumbling and the officer determines that the individual is intoxicated, TEMS would be notified and a citation would be written in that case because it was an officer-initiated stop.”

Once TUPD issues a citation, Student Affairs processes it and decides what course of action to take next.

“For most of the citations, I can just send the student a letter and say we’ve gotten a citation, and we’re not going to charge you,” Director of Student Conduct Kristen Kawczynski said. “But you need to be aware that your behavior borderlines on getting charged. “

Bailey said that administrators from TUPD and Student Conduct are meeting to solve the issues that have arisen with the introduction of the more aggressive alcohol policy.

”We never intended to give the perception or the reality that we are violating or compromising medical amnesty and not putting students health and safety first and foremost as opposed to the conduct process,” Bailey said.

Still, as in the past, Student Affairs will always follow up with the subject, and TUPD will always file a report at a scene where a student calls TEMS, even if officers do not issue citations.

“Students need to be aware that reports are still written,” Kawczynski said. “And there will always be a follow-up. It’s all about making sure the student’s OK, health and safety, and having a conversation about their choices about alcohol and such.”

Bailey said that this semester there has been an increase in cases in which students who call TEMS refuse to be transported to medical facilities.

“You don’t see many of those, so there’s some speculation out there about students are refusing transport so that they don’t get a citation,” Bailey said. “Like I said, there are some unintended consequences out there. “

Even in police-initiated incidents, however, students who need to seek medical attention will not receive a citation, though TUPD will file a police report, LeBlanc said.

Lauren Aronson, USG vice president of student life, said that underage students have come to her reporting that they received citations after TEMS calls, but that she has no substantial information.

“I’m appalled to think that students are hesitant to call TEMS when it’s a matter of their safety and health,” Aronson said.