Elon suspends student

Parent Cafe
1

<p>The student in question is a sophomore and she had a first offense of alcohol and her friends called security who called 911 and had her taken to the hospital. The hospital personel tell the administrator on call, who had come to the ED, her blood alcohol level and the admin tells her frineds in the waiting room and the parents. </p>

<p>The university with 2 weeks left in the semester expels the student and will allow her to reapply for spring semester. Tuition lost and the straight As in the coursework are lost and the student will have to retake all the classes again. </p>

<p>The student acknowledged the mistake and offered to take an alcohol class, be on probation and do community service. The student and parents asked to let the kid finish the semester and complete the coursework and stay home and miss January term and spring semester. This way the tuition is not lost and the kid can take new classes at the local community college and stay on track with graduation. The university will not budge.</p>

<p>I thought I would share how this university is handling the alcohol problem on campus.</p>

2

<p>Are you absolutely SURE you know the whole story?</p>

3

<p>Hmm, funny, haven't heard anything about this AT ALL. Where did you get this information?</p>

4

<p>If this is true, the administration is sending a horribly dangerous message to students. i.e. If you have alcohol poisoning do not seek help or you will be expelled.</p>

5

<p>Seems to contradict the Elon code of conduct which generally doesn't expel until the third or fourth offense.</p>

6

<p>Does seem kind of odd. The Elon Handbook:</p>

<p>
[quote]
</p>

<ol>
<li> Public Consumption and/or Possession of Alcohol</li>
</ol>

<p>Definition - possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is allowed by students who are 21 years of age or older only in their own residence or in the residence of another student age 21 or older.</p>

<p>Scope - all encompassing on campus and including off-campus events and activities sponsored by the University or student organizations.</p>

<p>Sanctions
First Offense - normally, not less than alcohol confiscated and disposed of, official warning and $50 fine (fine doubles if not paid in 5 days and student placed on disciplinary probation).
Second Offense - normally, not less than alcohol confiscated and disposed of, disciplinary probation, completion of the Alcohol 101 Program or Educational Project, 15 campus restitution hours and $75 fine (fine and restitution hours double if not paid in 5 days and student placed on preliminary suspension).
Third Offense - normally, not less than alcohol confiscated and disposed of, preliminary suspension or disciplinary suspension, Alcohol Assessment and Counseling, 30 campus restitution hours and $100 fine (fine and restitution hours double if not paid in 5 days and student placed on disciplinary suspension).
Fourth Offense - normally, disciplinary suspension for one year.</p>

<ol>
<li> Being Under the Influence of Alcoholic Beverages</li>
</ol>

<p>Definition - a person who, having consumed alcoholic beverages, experiences a loss of the normal use of his/her mental and/or physical faculties. This includes (but is not limited to) slurred speech, loss of motor coordination, aggression, loss of memory (blackouts) or abusive behavior.</p>

<p>Scope - all encompassing on campus and including all off-campus events and activities sponsored by the University or student organizations.</p>

<p>Sanctions
First Offense - normally, not less than alcohol confiscated and disposed of, disciplinary probation, completion of the Alcohol 101 Program or Educational Project, 15 campus restitution hours and $100 fine (fine and restitution hours double if not paid in 5 days and student placed on preliminary suspension).
Second Offense - normally, not less than alcohol confiscated and disposed of, preliminary suspension or disciplinary suspension, Alcohol Assessment and Counseling, 30 campus restitution hours and $200 fine (fine and restitution hours double if not paid in 5 days and student placed on disciplinary suspension).
Third Offense - normally, disciplinary suspension for one year.</p>

<ol>
<li> Possession and/or Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages by Students Under 21 Years of Age</li>
</ol>

<p>Definition - possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages by any student on university-owned property or at a campus or student organization event, or being in the presence of anyone doing so, or returning to campus after consuming by a student less than 21 years of age.</p>

<p>Scope - all encompassing on campus and including off-campus events and activities sponsored by the University or student organizations.</p>

<p>Sanctions
First Offense - normally, not less than alcohol confiscated and disposed of, official warning and $50 fine (fine doubles if not paid in five days and student placed on disciplinary probation).
Second Offense - normally, not less than alcohol confiscated and disposed of, disciplinary probation, completion of the Alcohol 101 Program or Educational Project, 15 campus restitution hours and $75 fine (fine and restitution hours double if not paid in 5 days and student placed on preliminary suspension).
Third Offense - normally, not less than alcohol confiscated and disposed of, preliminary suspension or disciplinary suspension, Alcohol Assessment and Counseling, 30 campus restitution hours and $100 fine (fine and restitution hours double if not paid in 5 days and student placed on disciplinary suspension).
Fourth Offense - normally, disciplinary suspension for one year.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I suppose it could also fall under:</p>

<p>
[quote]
BEHAVIOR THAT ENDANGERS THE HEALTH & SAFETY OF SELF AND/OR OTHERS</p>

<p>Definition - any behavior which creates a risk of danger to self, others or the university community, including, but not limited to propping doors to residence halls, playing alcohol drinking games or extreme intoxication, throwing objects from windows or balconies, water balloon fights, disclosure and/or use of residence hall/Greek house combinations or door access cards by an individual other than a resident of the community, failure to evacuate a building during a fire alarm and being on the roof of any buildings.</p>

<p>Scope - all encompassing on campus and including off-campus events and activities sponsored by the University or student organizations.</p>

<p>Sanctions
First Offense - normally, not less than disciplinary probation, $100 to $200 fine, 25 campus restitution hours and restitution and possible disciplinary suspension for one year. (Fine and restitution hours double if not paid in 5 days and student may be placed on disciplinary suspension.)
Second Offense - normally, not less than preliminary suspension, $150 to $300 fine, loss of campus housing and 50 campus restitution hours and possible permanent separation. (Fine and restitution hours double if not paid in 5 days and student may be placed on disciplinary suspension or permanent separation.)
Third Offense - normally, not less than disciplinary suspension, $200 to $400 fine and possible permanent separation from the university. (Fine doubles if not paid in 5 days and student is automatically placed on permanent separation.)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Under that provision, a first offense <em>could</em> result in a one year disciplinary suspension. </p>

<p>More info would be appreciated. For a campus as small as Elon's I'm surprised that Surf hasn't heard of it -- if it went down as the OP said it would probably be the talk of campus.</p>

7

<p><a href="http://www.elon.edu/e-web/students/handbook/sanctions.xhtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.elon.edu/e-web/students/handbook/sanctions.xhtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>These are the sanctions of the current handbook. There is more to this story than the OP knows or shares.</p>

8

<p>If true, the student has a good case against the hospital for disclosing private medical information. This is illegal.</p>

9

<p>No actually if the event happened at school, which would mean the school acts in loco parentis. And the hospital probably didn't disclose the information, it probably went on the 911 report, etc.</p>

10

<p>There is bound to be more to the story. I know of two boys with alcohol infractions last year who were not expelled--believe they took a class and perhaps community service would be in place for a 2nd offense. When my son was at Elon ('04), I remember a girl who almost died from alcohol toxicity--whole campus very upset and if I remember that one correctly, her parents pulled her from school.</p>

11

<p>I'm no lawyer, but it seems to me that if the student is over 18 years of age in loco parentis doesn't apply and the student's rights as an autonomous adult prohibit the disclosure of medical information to anyone other than those the student approves of, unless supoenaed by a court of law.</p>

<p>High schools act in loco parentis, but in college the school is not charged with maintaining the student's health or well being and isn't responsible for the student's actions as an individual in any other way...it's possible there's some fudge in the contracts that the school has every student sign granting the right to disclose but I highly doubt that to be the case, since the school has no right or need to know about medical matters unless they are such that the student needs a medical leave of absence.</p>

<p>Theoretically, private institutions can make any rules they want, but I'm pretty sure medical ethics would prohibit the attending physician from complying with university rules over federal privacy laws. If it is in fact the case and the student is basically expelled, I think she should consult a lawyer regarding her ability to sue the university and the hospital for demanding and disclosing personal medical information.</p>

<p>All this, of course, should be taken with a grain of salt, as I am quite sure I do not know the whole story. However, while many schools have a "got your back" policy (as ours is so aptly named) they only protect the students who call for help- NOT the student who is actually sick. As soon as they're better, they're open for all the judicial actions their friends were protected against- making the policies almost as ineffective as having none at all.</p>

<p>911 reports and other documents available to a limited public audience do not generally include the results of tox screens, blood alcohol contents, CBCs, or any other information not directly related to the condition of the patient at time of arrival and treatments and support administered by emergency personnel. These tests happen in the emergency room and are part of the patient's medical record. I'm personally very disturbed by the fact that this patient's health information was released to individuals who while legally may be responsible for her care really have no business knowing or using.</p>

12

<p>Since university security was said to be involved in this matter, they no doubt could make an observation that an (underage) student appeared to be drunk, they could recognize the smell of alcohol and conclude that (underage) drinking was occurring, they could observe alcoholic beverages in a room or apartment. </p>

<p>If no one can make a determination of alcohol use or abuse absent (confidential) medical data, then it would appear that no school could enforce any policy restricting alcohol use or abuse.</p>

13

<p>iI realize this story isn't the same- but it seems there are similarities
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=155312&pp=20%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=155312&pp=20&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

14

<p>I stand corrected. Perhaps there really isn't more to the OP's story. I spent some time talking with a current Elon student the other night. The alcohol policy is as stated above for consuming/possession underage. However, this student said for alcohol poisoning, students are being expelled. He too is concerned that students will be hesitant to take a friend in to hospital knowing that they may have just ended the student's academic life, at least at that college. And others may err on the side of "letting them sleep it off".</p>

15

<p>There is not more to the story. The dean says that 10 students were suspended this fall semester after being taken to the hospital with alcohol intoxication.<br>
He says it is common knowledge on campus that hospital=suspension.</p>

16

<p>blame the kids, not the school</p>

<p>let them take some personal responsibility for their actions.</p>

17

<p>It's not encouraging personal responsibility; it's discouraging students from getting help for friends who may be in a life-threatening situation.</p>

18

<p>^. That is not the only choice that the more sober students can make. </p>

<p>By doing nothing to help the helpless, could the sober be held responsible for manslaughter? Good Samaritan Rule?</p>

<p>The worst that can happen is not suspension, but a death; That friends could have prevented. Responsibility shifts.</p>

19

<p>For a first time alcohol offense, I would like to see discipline short of suspension unless the behavior endangered others. A simple hospital = suspension rule of thumb seems simplistic. I would hate for a student to even think about hesitating to call for help.

[quote]
Jackson said very few Elon students are hospitalized for excessive drinking, typically 12 to 15 students each year. Jackson said not all of the students who are taken to the hospital necessarily required hospitalization

[/quote]

So they also suspend those people who are taken to the hospital out of an abundance of caution? I still have a lot of questions about how the school is handling the situation. I suppose they aren't unique, though -- I think most schools are struggling with the question of how to consistently and fairly enforce their alcohol policies.</p>

20

<p>This is exactly the opposite policy of what is happening (or has already happened) in the world of higher ed. All it usually takes is one death from alcohol poisoning and you see schools begin to educate students on how dangerous it is to leave a friend passed out drunk. Generally, students are guaranteed that if they send a friend to the hospital, there will be no punishment. The idea is to ensure that no one DIES because someone makes a poor judgment call about calling for medical help.</p>

<p>Elon is playing with fire.</p>