Medical Amnesty and Sexual Assault Policy

The Medical Amnesty and Sexual Assault Policy Taskforce is dedicated to the attainment of an official policy of amnesty within Boston University.

General Information/Links

• Petition Statement:
  • We, the undersigned students, faculty, and staff, strongly urge Boston University to enact a medical amnesty policy that encourages students to seek medical attention in the event of an emergency, especially those involving sexual assault.  Currently, students are deterred from calling for help in potentially harmful situations involving drugs (including alcohol) because they are afraid of being punished under the university’s ‘zero- tolerance’ policy.  Boston University should bring itself in line with many of the top universities in the country by guaranteeing judicial amnesty to students who have the good sense to call for help when it is needed.  This would save students’ lives and promote health, safety, and responsibility on campus.
• SSDP website
• Google spreadsheet of the 89 schools who have Medical Amnesty
• Facebook Group
• Links to other schools’ policies:
  • Northeastern
  • Cornell
  • Duke
  • SMU
    • SMU is unique in requiring students who believe the policy applies to them to fill out a request to invoke form

Documentation

• Petition: Print and distribute. Return completed Petitions to any Union Member.
• Letters to the Task Force from Stacy Fontana:
  • Tips for Petitioning
  • Survey
• The Argument for the creation of a Sexual Assault and Medical Amnesty Policy:
  • Proposal
  • Resolution
  • FAQ
• Medical Amnesty: Professional Enabling or Indicated Prevention?
• Flier
• Proposal for Reform in Judicial Sanction Policy

Any questions, contact Stacy Fontana (snf@bu.edu)