Letter to the Editor 9/21
By: Giles Howard
Posted on 20. Sep, 2010 in Opinions
To the editor,
The Pitt News deserves praise for its efforts in exposing the University of Pittsburgh’s dangerous zero-tolerance alcohol policy — a policy that everyone except decision makers at Pitt recognize as a serious threat to student health.
As student anecdotes and interviews confirm, the University’s publicly-stated willingness to cite students for underage drinking in the emergency room of UPMC Presbyterian deters students from seeking medical attention while underage and under the influence of alcohol. While most students value their lives and the lives of their friends too much to not seek or not help someone seek medical attention even if it means a citation, it is an obvious danger that just one student, fearing a citation, will not make the right decision and someone will die.
To be clear, in enforcing this policy, the University of Pittsburgh is putting student lives at risk.
Based on our research at The Publius Foundation and on accounts published by The Pitt News, we believe that the University should instruct police officers not to issue underage drinking citations on the grounds of UPMC Presbyterian. Furthermore, in order to inform students of this change and signal to students that it is possible to seek medical attention without facing legal penalties for consuming alcohol underage, we believe that the University should publicly announce this new policy on its website and via email to all students. We are currently circulating a petition to this effect.
Giles Howard
President
The Publius Foundation
2 Responses to “Letter to the Editor 9/21”
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How can citations be given in a medical institution? If parents are informed, doesn’t that violate HIPPA confidentiality?
Are citations given if a student goes to any other hospital? Doctor’s office? Urgent care?
Zero tolerance on campus is fine. Zero tolerance in a hospital does not make any sense. If drinking becomes a medical problem that is punishable by fine, then citations should be given out for diabetics coming in with high blood sugar. That’s self-induced too.
How dare you question the autori-teh of the all wise and knowing police and administration. They know what is best for you. You must sit down, shut-up, and obey your betters. We are watching you.