Bystander Intervention - SOUTHEAST STEP UP!

• At Southeast, we promote healthy choices, civility, and respect for all.
• We have the power to protect our students, staff, and visitors from harm and assist them when they are in need.
• There may be times when you may need to stop being an observer and act/react in some way.
• Most problematic behaviors on college campuses involve bystanders (people watching or in the area).

The times you may have to intervene (STEP UP!) include:

• When a friend or another student has had too much to drink.
• When a friend or another student talks about harming him/herself or others.
• When you observe a situation that just does not seem quite right.
• When you notice violent behavior or that someone is injured or in danger.
• When you observe that a person or group is being hazed by a person or group.
• When you perceive that someone may harm someone in your presence.
• When you encounter someone who may not be able to take care of him/herself.
• When you observe an argument or altercation between two people or a group.

Southeast StepUp! - The 5 Decision Making Steps

• Notice the event
• Interpret the event as a problem — investigate!
• Assume personal responsibility
• Know how to help
• Implement the help: StepUp!

Responsible Intervention and Good Samaritan Guidelines

Students are expected to alert appropriate officials, including Resident Assistants (RA), Hall Directors (HD), University Police (DPS), other staff and/or faculty when they observe a health or safety emergency especially ones that includes the abuse of alcohol or drugs — even if these actions are in violation of the Southeast Missouri State University Statement of Student Rights and Code of Student Conduct (Code).

Some students may not want to report things they observe due to fear of getting in trouble (disciplinary action), so the University has adopted these guidelines to ease those concerns and promote bystander intervention even when Code violations are occurring. For example, two underage students have been consuming alcohol and one is extremely intoxicated, we want the other student to notify a University official so they can determine if the student needs medical attention.

In a situation involving a serious threat to the health or safety of any student(s), we expect a bystander to do the following:

1. Contact emergency officials by calling 911 off-campus or (573) 651-2215 on-campus or contact a member of the staff, faculty, or an RA/HD who is nearby.
2. Remain with the individual(s) needing emergency treatment and cooperate with emergency officials if it is safe to do so.
3. Meet with appropriate University officials after the incident and cooperate with any University review

The University will consider the positive impact of taking responsibility to act (bystander intervention) in the emergency situation when dealing with the incident. This means that in most circumstances, no formal University disciplinary actions or sanctions will be imposed for alcohol or drug infractions. However, the incident will be documented, and alcohol and/or drug education may be required as a condition of deferring disciplinary actions or sanctions. These guidelines do not protect against repeated, flagrant, or serious violations of the Code (including physical or sexual assault, violence, hazing, harassment, theft, or vandalism or instances where multiple individuals need medical attention), nor does it prevent action by University Police or other law enforcement agencies.

Student Organizations and Student Groups

Student organizations and student groups are also expected to follow these guidelines in emergency situations as well through their officers and members. A student organization or group’s compliance with these guidelines will be considered when determining the outcome or sanction of an incident that would usually lead to disciplinary charges/action against the organization. Failure of students or student organizations to take responsible actions in an emergency situation where action is clearly warranted, however, may void all protections under these guidelines; may constitute an aggravating factor for purposes of sanctioning; and may lead to further disciplinary actions for the student or the student organization(s).

Student and student organizations should also keep in mind the following:

There is no limit to the number of times that the Responsible Intervention and Good Samaritan Guidelines can be used as long as it is followed appropriately. We always encourage students to STEP UP and look after their friends and peers.

It is possible that parents will be notified. The University reserves the right under its Parental Notification Policy to contact parents or guardians when students are under the age of 21 and have violated University rules regarding alcohol or drugs and/or when there is a health or safety emergency. For more information, see the Code of Conduct.

Student organizations and groups are held to a higher standard because of their numerous officers and members; the existence of additional University policies governing student organizations; and the need for established risk management efforts at group activities. Student organizations and groups are expected to incorporate these guidelines in to their risk management plans and notify all members and affiliates. Individual members or officers who follow these guidelines would also be eligible for possible protection under the Responsible Intervention and Good Samaritan Guidelines for any individual violations he/she may have committed.

Responding to alcohol emergencies

What is alcohol poisoning? A person who has lost consciousness and cannot be roused is in danger of dying. Help is needed immediately.

Alcohol poisoning is another term for an alcohol overdose, when individuals consume so much alcohol that their bodies can no longer process it quickly enough. Alcohol poisoning and overdoses are potentially lethal; the human body simply cannot tolerate or process excessive amounts of alcohol.

The signs of alcohol poisoning and overdose include (not all of these conditions need to be present):

• Confusion or stupor
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Slow, irregular or abnormal breathing
• Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin
• Loss of consciousness: Inability to rouse a person with shouts or shaking (unconscious) or inability of a person to remain awake for more than a few minutes or to carry on a coherent conversation when awake (semi-conscious)
• DO: Turn the person on his/her side to prevent choking if the person vomits.
• DO: Contact a campus official (Hall Director, Resident Assistant, University Police, etc.).
• DO: Be prepared to tell emergency personnel as much information as possible, including the amount and type of alcohol or substances consumed.
• DO NOT: Leave the person alone.
• DO NOT: Leave the person on his/her back.
• DO NOT: Try to make the person vomit.
• DO NOT: Try to get the person to eat or drink anything, even water. (The stomach is severely irritated and cannot handle anything else.)
• DO NOT: Put the person in a cold shower. (This will not lower a person’s blood alcohol content and could cause shock.)