State lawmakers are considering a “Responsible Action Law.”
This law will allow underage students under the influence of drugs or alcohol
to avoid legal punishment when reporting things such as sexual assault, health
problems, and other crimes on their behalf or someone else. It is believed that
adopting this law state-wide will allow for a decrease in alcohol related
deaths among college students.
Many campuses in Wisconsin, including the University of
Wisconsin-Madison, have already begun honoring this policy. Despite the moral
code all college students may believe they have, some avoid reporting emergency
situations for fear of being ticketed.
Though students would not be held under legal consequence,
colleges practicing this policy usually require students to
complete some sort of drug/alcohol counseling, classes, or assessments. Many
colleges have added consequences for student organization
leaders, student athletes, and students involved in work study.
According to an article in The Badger Herald, University of
Wisconsin-Madison’s school newspaper, ASM Legislative Affairs Chair Dan Statter
states most Big Ten universities already have similar laws protecting their
students.
An informal survey for this story, at the University of
Wisconsin-La Crosse, showed that almost all of the students surveyed believe
that the Responsible Action law is a good idea. Forty percent of students asked
claimed to have known of someone falling victim to sexual violence or
assault while under the influence of alcohol but neglecting to report it. An
even higher 70 percent claimed to have been in a situation where they thought
someone may have needed medical attention but did not take action for fear of
being ticketed.
