Dean Burns,
In the October 16 Campus Times article “Unreasonable Expectations,” Associate Dean of Students Burns seems to belittle the notion that students should not face disciplinary action if treated for possible alcohol poisoning. Dean Burns seems to believe that discplinary action is necessary when students are sent to the hospital and that inaction encourages students to drink more.
Dean Burns is wrong.
Ask someone whether she would like to have alcohol poisoning, be rushed toa hospital, and have a tube stuck down her throat so her stomach can bepumped, and in all likelihood you will get a reply that this situation isone to be avoided.
Therefore, a policy of non-punishment for exceess drinking will not give students incentive to drink more, as Dean Burns implies. But what a policy of punishment may do is give students DISINCENTVE to call for emergency medical services when a fellow student is extremely inebriated, fearing disciplinary ramifications enacted by the University at a future date, instead of concentrating on what’s most important, the physical well-being of the student.
Steve O’DonnellClass of 2003
