Student health and safety are primary concerns of the RPI community. It is imperative that someone call for medical assistance when an individual is a victim of and/or experiences alcohol intoxication, drug overdose, or serious injury after consuming alcohol or other drugs. In general, people may be reluctant to seek emergency or medical attention for fear of judicial consequences for themselves, the person in need of assistance, and/or the organization hosting the event where the situation occurs.

Since these situations are potentially life threatening, RPI seeks to reduce barriers to seeking assistance. The Good Samaritan Policy is part of RPI’s approach to reducing harmful consequences caused by the consumption of alcohol and other drugs. The Good Samaritan Policy is the institute’s commitment to increase the likelihood that community members will call for assistance when faced with an alcohol or drug-related emergency.

• An individual who receives emergency assistance and/or medical treatment due to alcohol or drug consumption and completes an alcohol and other drugs assessment, education activities, and/or treatment as assigned through the RPI Health Center will not be subject to judicial action for violating Institute Alcohol & Other Drugs Policy.
• A person who calls for emergency assistance and/or medical treatment due to alcohol or drug consumption on behalf of another person will not be subject to judicial action for violating Institute Alcohol & Other Drugs Policy but may be required to attend an alcohol and other drugs education program if deemed necessary by the RPI Health Center.
• A representative of an organization hosting an event is expected to promptly call for emergency assistance and/or medical attention due to evidence of a potential health or other emergency resulting from consumption of alcohol or other drugs by a guest at the event. This act of responsibility will mitigate the judicial consequences against the organization, resulting in non-punitive alternative sanctions against the organization for violations of the Institute’s Alcohol & Other Drug Policy at the time of the incident.

However, failure to call for emergency assistance and/or medical treatment will be considered an “intolerable circumstance” affecting judicial sanctions against the organization and persons found to be knowledgeable and/or responsible for the event if violations of Grounds for Disciplinary Action have occurred.

Requirement to Obtain Medical Assistance: RPI students, student organizations, and other members of the RPI Community are required to summon Emergency Medical Services (by calling 911 or RPI Public Safety at (518)276-6611 to obtain assistance and evaluation for any person who is in their room or immediate presence and is, or is suspected to be, under the influence of alcohol or other prohibited substances, when that person’s well-being and safety is known to be or reasonably should be known to be in jeopardy. When an individual knows or reasonably should know that another person is in jeopardy, failing to summon emergency medical services (e.g. taking the person back to their residence and dropping them off, driving the person to a hospital in a personal vehicle, asking another person to take responsibility for the intoxicated individual without seeking medical assistance for the ill person) shall be considered a violation of this policy.

Alcohol and Drug Use Amnesty under the Sexual Misconduct Policy

The health and safety of every student at RPI is of utmost importance. RPI recognizes that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time that violence, including but not limited to domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. RPI strongly encourages students to report domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault to institution officials. A bystander acting in good faith or a reporting individual acting in good faith that discloses any incident of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault to RPI officials or law enforcement will not be subject to the RPI code of conduct action for violations of alcohol and/or drug use policies occurring at or near the time of the commission of the domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault. However, the use of alcohol or other drugs will never function as a defense for any behavior that violates the RPI Sexual Misconduct Policy.