Amnesty Policy

A student’s safety comes first. Students who seek medical assistance for themselves or others will not receive disciplinary sanctions for violations that occurred at the time of the incident. Instead, the students involved may be assigned educational programs, to be determined on a case by case basis with the intention of providing support and preventing future occurrences.

The conduct of a student meeting the criteria below will be considered a mitigating factor in any disciplinary proceedings that Mount Aloysius College conducts that arise out of the incident.

Reporting Alcohol & Drug, and Other Emergencies

Students are expected to seek help for themselves or for a peer(s)’ personal welfare in drug, alcohol, or other emergencies.

In medical emergencies, immediate action should be taken by calling 9-1-1 from either Campus Safety (814-886-6327), or for residential students, your Resident Assistant.

Students are expected to:

STAY

Stay with the person until responding staff or emergency personnel arrive and you have been told your assistance is no longer needed.

COOPERATE

Cooperate with responding staff or emergency personnel, including all requests for information and assistance.

This policy does not cover the following:

  • Dishonesty, hazing, causing or threatening physical harm, theft, property damage, possession with the intent to distribute drugs.

  • This policy does not apply to a student who is charged with sexual misconduct (e.g., a student accused of sexual assault cannot be covered by the Amnesty policy).

  • This policy does not apply if a College or other official responds to the student needing assistance before a student calls for assistance.

The Pennsylvania Legislature recently passed a law that gives an underage person a defense to prosecution for the summary offense of consumption or possession of alcohol if, 1) the person calls 911 or alerts campus safety, police or emergency services in the good faith belief that another individual needs immediate medical help to prevent death or serious injury; 2) they reasonably believe that they are the first person to make that emergency call; 3) they give their own name in making the call; 4) they stay with the person in need of medical attention until the help arrives; and, 5) the only way law enforcement becomes aware of their own possession or consumption of alcohol is because of their conduct in 1 – 4 above.

Similarly, under Act 139, limited immunity from charge and prosecution for certain drug offenses is provided if an individual calls 911 in the event of an overdose. To be protected under the law, individuals who report an overdose must give their names, stay with the person who overdosed until help arrives, and cooperate with law enforcement personnel. Drug offenses that are covered under this law are those related to possession of drug paraphernalia and small amounts of drugs. Individuals in possession of a quantity of drugs that constitutes “intent to sell” are not protected under the Good Samaritan statute. The person who overdosed is also protected under the law where the person who made the call is protected.