Responsible Citizens

The College holds a fundamental commitment to the safety of its community. As a result, the College seeks to advance through the system two fundamental responsibilities of students – respect and appreciation for the safety of self and others, and for the law and College policy. It is vital for students to call Campus Safety when an intoxicated student needs medical help.

The Responsible Citizen and Medical Amnesty Policy offer a clear message to students that they should report any potentially dangerous cases of alcohol or drug intoxication; they should not be concerned about disciplinary consequences at such a time. These exemptions are not viewed as an avenue through which a student or organization may escape responsibility, but rather, the means by which they will be challenged and supported to discern their responsibilities and to be accountable as members of the Union community.

Students or Organizations that seek emergency attention for dangerously intoxicated individuals may not be subject to formal disciplinary action, at the discretion of the Dean (not the responding Campus Safety officer), based on the safety issues involved. The policy applies to the student or organization reporting their concern. When students encounter another who may be dangerously intoxicated, they should call Campus Safety immediately at (518) 388-6911.

The policy reflects the College’s priority on safety and does not rule out an educational response to the incident. The student’s educational record will reflect no formal disciplinary action, but the College may contact the student’s parents as a health precaution and may require a professional alcohol/drug evaluation and referral to the Counseling Center. Organizations are not subject to this limitation.

Students that seek emergency attention if they are intoxicated to a degree where their personal safety is compromised may not be subject to formal disciplinary action at the discretion of the Director of Community Standards & Accountability or their designee (not the responding Campus Safety officer), based on the safety issues involved.

The student’s permanent educational record will reflect no formal disciplinary action, but the College may contact the student’s parents as a health precaution and may require a professional alcohol/drug evaluation and referral to the Counseling Center.* The policy reflects the College’s priority on safety and does not rule out an educational response to the incident. The policy refers to isolated incidents only and does not protect those individuals who flagrantly and repeatedly violate the College’s alcohol policy.

*Organizations are not subject to this limitation.

The health and safety of every student at the College is of utmost importance. Union College recognizes that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time that violence, including but not limited to domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. Union College strongly encourages students to report domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault to institution officials. A bystander acting in good faith or a reporting individual acting in good faith that discloses any incident of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault to College officials or law enforcement will not be subject to Union College’s code of conduct action for violations of alcohol and/or drug use policies occurring at or near the time of the commission of the domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault.