The Otterbein Police Department offers free rides and other aid to students who are intoxicated with no risk of a judicial hearing or charges.
This comes as a part of Otterbein’s alcohol amnesty program, in which students can use OPD resources such as transportation and medical care if they or somebody else is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Although students are not at risk for conduct charges resulting from using this resource, if a student uses it often, they can be recommended for counselling intervention or referred to the Dean of Students.
Otterbein’s campus life handbook says, “If a student calls university staff or Otterbein Police for assistance for themselves or another student because of severe intoxication, overdose, or physical injury, neither the reporting student nor the student in need will be charged with a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.”
Otterbein Police Chief Paul Weiner says this is because he understands students are prone to making mistakes: “We want an environment here that’s going to get you a degree, not necessarily a criminal record or a lifelong consequence.”
However, students who use the program too often should expect some form of disciplinary action.
Weiner says, “While I’m not going to do judicial charges, that doesn’t mean we’re not doing some kind of intervention.”
Usually, this intervention is either the Ohio Police Department issuing a recommendation to counselling services, referring the student to the Student Affairs Office, or referring the student to the Dean of Students, Julie Saker. Likewise, there is no promise of confidentiality if a student uses the policy, and their name will be on an OPD report about the incident.
Usually, this intervention is either Ohio Police Department issuing a recommendation to counselling services, referring the student to the Student Affairs Office, or referring the student to the Dean of Students, Julie Saker. Likewise, there is no promise of confidentiality if a student uses the policy, and their name will be on an Ohio Police Department report about the incident.
Amnesty is nullified if a paid university employee, such as an RA or hall director, has reported the incident; if an incident occurs within campus organizations such as fraternities, students will still be held responsible for alcohol violations.
