Illinois is discussing a bill that would allow minors to seek medical help for alcohol poisoning without fear of prosecution for underage consumption of alcohol. Neither the minor reporting the incident nor the minor who is intoxicated would be prosecuted under this bill. Currently, only a handful of states have any kind of medical amnesty laws. Today, the Urbana-Champaign Senate Committee on Student Discipline will discuss and vote on a similar policy proposal for the University.

Both proposals are necessary; student safety comes first. If a student fears getting help for another student based on possible charges that will be held against them, the University is not doing its job in keeping its students as safe as possible.

Currently, the University, Champaign and Urbana have unwritten but widely understood medical amnesty policies. When it comes down to it, the responding officer has the authority to determine whether to press charges. A written policy would codify this rule and ensure students’ protection from charges.

The  Committee’s proposal, called the Medical Amnesty and Good Samaritan policy, would only apply to University policy. According to the proposed policy, as long as a minor that calls in help for another minor stays with the student and cooperates with the officers, the caller will be granted medical amnesty. Additionally, the student who needs the medical assistance will be granted medical amnesty, yet he may be required to complete an alcohol education program.

In 2002, Cornell University was one of the first universities to grant medical amnesty to its students, and several universities have followed suit. Cornell conducted a survey in 2000 that found that 19 percent of respondents had thought about calling for help for someone who was intoxicated, but only 4 percent actually made the call. The second-highest reason cited for not making the call was the fear of getting the “distressed individual” in trouble. 

It is essential that this policy is passed, especially on a campus where the drinking culture is so large. Although there is an unwritten rule, a law would more than alleviate the fears of students in critical need of medical attention. Although officers say they value the life of the individual over writing citations, a law would guarantee a student’s safety.

But while this would be a great policy for the University, we encourage Champaign and Urbana to adopt it as well. Only then can students be sure that when they call in for help they will not be charged.

We hope that the Committee passes this proposal. While its passage does not necessarily mean that the University itself will implement the policy, we are happy that this issue is being discussed, and we support the Committee in its intentions.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article stated that the ISS proposed the Medical Amnesty and Good Samaritan policy for the University. The Urbana-Champaign Senate Committee on Student Discipline proposed the policy. The Daily Illini regrets the error.