The Student Association Executive Board has collected data from students as part of its push to get the Responsible Community Action Plan closer to implementation. The survey saw 1,013 responses, with each class relatively equally represented. Out of the 1,013 surveyed, only 8 percent of students knew what RCAP is. Seventy-five percent of students, however, claimed that they have an understanding of Geneseo’s student code of conduct. Students that claimed they have no understanding made up 18.7 percent of the survey, and 6.3 percent claimed they have an in-depth understanding.
While many students appear to understand the consequences of the school’s current medical amnesty policy, they have no knowledge that SA is attempting to change it or that it is in need of changing.
Of the 1,013 surveyed, 163 students said they found themselves in a situation where they had a friend who was in need of medical assistance. Fifty-six sought campus help, 43 called for help and 13 spoke to a Resident Assistant.
The other 82 opted not to seek help, with 53 simply monitoring their friend, 14 not calling, seven simply waiting and the last eight either finding a ride to the hospital on their own or calling someone else.
Many of the reasons for not seeking campus help point to students’ desire for a policy in-line with RCAP. Sixty claimed they did not want to get in trouble, 22 had fear of conduct repercussions and 14 did not want to get their respective organizations in trouble.
There were also 22 students, however, who were unsure if medical attention was needed, which points to a different problem.
When students were asked how they felt the administration should deal with the medical amnesty question, a large portion of the support was for either: no conduct charge for yourself––regarding alcohol consumption/possession—or support for minimizing conduct barriers to seeking emergency assistance for self or the person in distress, with 67.96 percent and 58.54 percent strongly in support, respectively.
Additionally, 30.57 percent of students were strongly in favor of alcohol and drug education, which would benefit students who are unable to tell when their friends are in need of attention.
While SA has been working towards getting RCAP cleared, New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo has recently stated that he will be releasing new sexual assault and medical amnesty policies for State University of New York campuses, which would render RCAP obsolete if it conflicted. SA President senior Harrison Dole said that for the time being, SA will be postponing work on RCAP until they see where Cuomo lands on his policy.