In life, as it is in Greek myth, drunkenness is
dangerous. This is common knowledge. That being said, convincing anyone who
enjoys drinking to renounce alcohol on those terms alone would be a pointless
endeavor. Most people understand the lethality of alcohol and choose to
responsibly, sensibly imbibe. This understanding, however, doesn’t simply
appear out of nowhere; it is learned.
Much of it is learned in college, where roughly
half of all alcohol consumption is done by underage students (Stephenson).
Going to parties and drinking is a popular weekend activity; one could argue it
is a staple of college life. Despite the apparent danger and illegality of
underage drinking, most of us do it anyway. This was also the case in Ancient
Greece, and the Greeks had their own cultural way of warding off alcohol’s
dangerous effects. Today, the most frightening part of drinking, for young
people, is our limited experience. When incidents do occur, inexperienced
party-goers are forced to learn their limits the hard way. Young drinkers,
unknowing of their tolerance to alcohol, often place themselves in this
situation while their peers panic and nervously contemplate what to do next.
Hofstra has a policy in place to ensure that next
decision is wise. It’s called “medical amnesty.” It aims to “ensure that those
individuals who require assistance for themselves or a friend who may have
consumed excessive alcohol or drugs will turn to the appropriate personnel to
seek emergency medical assistance without fear of reprisal for doing so” (Hofstra
University). The policy’s greatest strength is not only about getting students
the help they need; it is about dispelling the apprehension that most
bystanders feel in the face of punishment. It morally transcends the law,
prioritizing the health and safety of students instead. Every Hofstra student should
be aware of this policy. Whether we choose to drink or not, realizing the
benefits of medical amnesty guides us towards a greater understanding of our
university’s perspective on drinking. Medical amnesty teaches us how to best
navigate the culture of college partying, both as bystanders and as active
participants. It defends us from the lethality of booze, and from our fear of
punishment which far too often prevents us from calling for help.
The ancient Greeks had their own defense against drunkenness.
The myth begins with the god of wine and revelry, Dionysus, who one day spots a
beautiful young maiden walking by herself. In his drunkenness, the god decides
to pursue her, intending to use his heavenly wine to ease her into his company.
Little did he know, however, that the young girl was walking to pray at the
temple of Artemis, Greek goddess of chastity. Seeing Dionysus approach, the
girl prayed to her goddess, begging for her help to remain chaste. In response,
Artemis swiftly transformed the maiden into a white crystal, protecting her. In
awe of the girl’s chastity, and as a tribute to Artemis, Dionysus poured his
ambrosial wine over the white crystal, turning it to a deep purple. The
maiden’s name was Amethyst, and the precious purple gem draws its name from
her. Ancient Greeks were fond of amethyst; they crazily believed the stone
could protect them from drunkenness. Amethysts were carried by party-goers and
goblets were often embezzled with the gorgeous stones in the hopes that they
might shield their owner from a long night of vomiting.
While modern science can disprove the amethyst as
an antidote to drunkenness, it cannot dispel its sentiment. Those who enjoy
drinking, should they go too far, need a system in place that better guarantees
their safety and, if necessary, offers them a much-needed learning opportunity.
Medical Amnesty is that system, and Hofstra’s Department of Public Safety
officers are the gems which guarantee its effectiveness. Author Jade Chu, in
her piece “Public Safety Saves Lives,” writes, “Even though we have a strict rule with no alcohol on campus, Public Safety will never get you in trouble for something like this, or tell your
parents. Their job is to make sure that you get the help you need” (Chu). Public
safety officers are firm but friendly, even in situations that call upon
medical amnesty. When we truly understand the everyday goal of Public Safety officers—to
ensure the safety of all students—our urge to fear them disappears.
I experienced this phenomenon firsthand one night
in late September, when a good friend of mine drank more than he could handle
and had become terribly sick. Sitting next to him on the curb outside our
residence hall, I tried my best to reassure him that he was going to be
alright. My efforts alone were not enough to quiet his mind, which was no doubt
scared and disillusioned. When he finally tilted his head up from the ground,
he looked at me and said “I wouldn’t blame you for calling Public Safety.” I
did as he said, and an officer was quick to arrive. He was comforting to my
friend, who anxiously asked if he would get in trouble for his situation. The
officer kindly replied, “Nobody’s in trouble here. Don’t worry.” As we sat
waiting for the ambulance to arrive, I asked him, “So, do you get these kinds
of calls often?” He snickered. “All the time,” he said. “It’s what we do.” That
night I discovered how hugely influential a simple change of attitude can be,
and how brave students can become as soon as their fear of punishment is lifted.
Several weeks later, in my interview with Bob
McDonald, I discovered that every member of the Public Safety staff is as
benevolent as the officer I had met that September night. I had the opportunity
of talking with Mr. McDonald, Associate Director of Public Safety, about
medical amnesty and Public Safety’s practice of it. “There’s been a change,” he
told me, “not so much of attitude, but of services.” His enlightening
explanation of the department’s role, in handling alcohol or drug related
incidents, described Public Safety as a “conduit.” Public Safety officers are
the first responders to any incident, of course, but they are also the
effective conduits through which distressed students receive the services and
care they need. “If you see it, call it.” He continued, “You don’t have to
worry about repercussions. I think students do
want to help other students, and the fact that there is amnesty means there’s no
stigma attached to it” (McDonald). Public Safety, and the medical amnesty
policy, make the safety of students their top priority, and it sends a
positive, progressive message.
This approach—alleviating risk of punishment in
return for the safety of students—was not originally Hofstra’s idea. While this
university has gracefully implemented the policy, medical amnesty has been on
the minds of university presidents ever since 2008, when John McCardell had an
idea. As the President Emeritus of Middlebury College, McCardell was preparing
to speak at a meeting of the Annapolis Group, comprised of 120 college and
university presidents, when he and several of his colleagues from within the
group sparked a debate surrounding the effects of the current drinking age. Their
conversation was centered around the “culture of dangerous, clandestine
‘binge-drinking’—often conducted off-campus” and recognized that “alcohol
education that mandates abstinence as the only legal option has not resulted in
significant constructive behavioral change among our students” (Amethyst
Initiative).
McCardell’s conversation expanded in size as his
colleagues within the Annapolis Group began gravitating towards his idea of
rethinking university attitudes towards drinking. Instead of vehemently
enforcing the current law so frequently circumvented by students (at off-campus
parties or with fake ID’s), McCardell’s idea was to reexamine the traditional
disciplinary approach to college drinking. His movement became known as The
Amethyst Initiative, and fellow presidents who participated in the discussion
became its signatories. Today the initiative has 136 signatories, and while
Hofstra is not yet on the list, it certainly echoes the sentiments of the
Amethyst Initiative in its attitude towards alcohol. The morals that underpin these
policies and conversations indicate huge progress on the part of colleges and
universities. Today the topic of conversation is less often about the law, and
more often about the safety of all students.
As university students ourselves, it’s important
that we listen in on these conversations as best we can; the decisions vested
in our university’s administration determine our freedom and our safety. The
ancient Greeks had no method for testing their defense against drunkenness;
their cultural explanation for its importance, the story of Dionysus and
Amethyst, was a strong enough basis for their belief in the purple stone’s
powers. As college students in the 21st century, we should take a
valuable lesson from the drinking culture of ancient Greece: strengthening our
belief in the things that protect us will only make us safer. Let’s create a
culture that reveres Public Safety officers as the guardians they are, and let’s
share our stories of their kindness and dedication. They have been there for us
in our time of need, and they have fostered experiences that only help us grow.
If we can boast that “what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger,” we can also admit
that learning to live without danger is wisdom stronger than strength itself.
Works Cited
Amethyst
Initiative. "Statement." The Amethyst Initiative. Choose
Responsibility, n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2016.
Braid, Fara.
"History and Legend of Amethyst." International Gem Society.
IGS, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2016.
Chu, Jade.
"Public Safety Saves Lives: The Essential University Service." Taking
Giant Steps. Giant Steps Press, 14 Feb. 2016. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
Hofstra University.
"Policy on Alcohol, Illegal, and Other Controlled Substances." Community
Standards. Hofstra University, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2016.
McDonald, Robert K.
Personal interview. 07 Nov. 2016.
Stephenson, Steve.
"Prevalence of Underage Drinking." Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School
of Public Health. JH Bloomberg School of Public Health, July 2011. Web. 01
Nov. 2016.
