Georgetown University students do not face disciplinary action if an ambulance is called for alcohol poisoning, according to Kristin Midon, president of the Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service.
AU students, in contrast, receive a call home on the first substance-related incident, and can also receive punishments such as writing papers or going to Judicial and Mediation Services (JAMS), as The Eagle has previously reported.
"I think that it fosters a sense of proper priorities for students when faced with decisions concerning the well-being of others," said Michael Bayer, a theology and psychology major at Georgetown. "If people were afraid of disciplinary measures, I can almost guarantee that most students would be far more hesitant to call the paramedics in those situations."
Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service, or GERMS as it is commonly known, is a student-run Emergency Medical Technician service staffed 24 hours a day, mostly by undergraduates. When GERMS gets a call, Georgetown Public Safety is notified, but the identities of students treated are not released to the school.
"Their philosophy is very different, they are not a dry campus," said Evan Wagner, an AU student who is also taking the GERMS class for EMTs. "In my opinion, people are more willing to call for help."
Sara Waldron, AU's associate dean of students, defended AU's alcohol policy. She said it was important to note that there is no record in your student file for being taken to the hospital, but all students in such situations do meet with her and are required to call home.
