Saying last year's policy change was a mistake, Dean of Student Bruce Reitman has taken residence hall alcohol violations out of the jurisdiction of Judicial Affairs, and placed the cases back in the hands of the Office of Residential Life.
The broad readjustment of University disciplinary regulations, undertaken this summer, also lessened the penalty for first-time substance abuse offenders by allowing them to remain in "good standing" with the University.
Under last year's policy, substance abuse cases were sent to the Office of Judicial Affairs, which discouraged students from calling Tufts Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) for fear that the ill student would be subject to harsh disciplinary measures.
Reitman modified the policy in coordination with students, peer advisors, and other deans. According to administrators, health concerns should outweigh students' reservations in calling for an ambulance. "We know there is some hesitation to call TEMS," said Marisel Perez, associate dean of students. "But a student's health should be the priority."
Separating incidents that occur in the residence halls from those that occur elsewhere on campus is nothing new - in fact, that policy existed until the University last year placed both categories under the jurisdiction of Judicial Affairs.
"It was a one year aberration," Reitman said. "We think it was a mistake."
RA's deal with illegal drinking in the dorms and Residential Life will assign offending students the corresponding level of probation and could ultimately expel students from dorms. Judicial Affairs will only be involved in the process if the alcohol or substance abuse case involved a health risk.
This year, RA's were trained to discuss alcohol violations with their residents before passing the case on to the Tufts administration. "RA's have been told to approach people who are found drinking like an adult," Reitman said, "not intending to be an abuser, but to still confront the issue."
With last year's policy, the RA's role in alcohol infractions ended after reporting the incident to Judicial Affairs. "There was no thought process to what was happening," Perez said, "no room for discretion and consideration of who is doing what."
A second change dictates that students placed on Probation 1 for using illegal substances will no longer lose their "good standing" with the University, a penalty that denied them a multitude of campus-related activities, including rushing Greek organizations, studying abroad, and applying for a Resident Assistant (RA) position.
Dean of Judicial Affairs Veronica Carter said that many students placed on Probation 1 last year complained that they were unaware of the associated penalties.
This year's policy, however, appears to have met with approval from students. "It's a good policy," said Chad Pessini, a Theta Delta Chi brother.
"If a freshman makes a stupid mistake early in the first semester, he won't be penalized," Pessini said. "At the same time, it doesn't take away the incentive to get help if someone really needs it."
