Alcohol and Other Drugs

Saint Vincent College and Seminary are committed to the responsible use of alcoholic beverages on campus. Illegal or irresponsible consumption of alcoholic beverages and other drugs will not be tolerated. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of alcohol or a controlled substance is prohibited on College and Seminary property or as part of any activity sponsored by the College and Seminary. A controlled substance includes but is not limited to marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin, and amphetamines.

Students, faculty and staff must abide by the terms of the above policy. Furthermore, the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 requires any employee to notify the Director of Human Resources of any conviction under a criminal drug statute for violations occurring on or off College premises while conducting College business. A report of the conviction must be made within five days following the conviction.

Disciplinary action for violations will be taken according to the applicable Saint Vincent College or Seminary handbook up to and including termination of employment or expulsion from the College or Seminary and referral for prosecution. Saint Vincent College and Seminary will not shield individuals from the legal consequences of their actions should they violate the law.

All members of the Saint Vincent College and Seminary community must adhere to all applicable local, state and federal laws related to the sale and use of alcoholic beverages and other drugs and controlled substances. In addition, a person convicted of a federal or Pennsylvania offense involving a controlled substance may be made ineligible to receive grants, licenses, contracts and other federal benefits. Federal penalties for possession of any substance containing illicit drugs are up to one year of imprisonment and/or a fine up to $5,000 for the first offense and up to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $10,000 for the second offense. Federal penalties for the cultivation or manufacture, distribution, or possession of illicit drugs are determined by their classification. Factors leading to stiffer penalties include: Repeated offenses, larger amounts of the substance, purity of the substance, distribution to a person under the age of 18 or to a pregnant woman, distribution within 1,000 feet of a schoolyard, playground, youth center, swimming pool, or video arcade.

The College encourages students to abstain from alcohol and other drugs. If students choose to consume alcohol, they should do so responsibly and legally.

Reporting Alcohol and Drug Related\Other Emergencies

Students are to seek help for their peers’ personal welfare in drug or alcohol or other emergencies. The Pennsylvania Legislature recently passed a law that gives an underage person a defense to prosecution for the summary offense of consumption or possession of alcohol if, 1) the person calls 911 or alerts campus safety, police or emergency services in the good faith belief that another individual needs immediate medical help to prevent death or serious injury; 2) they reasonably believe that they are the first person to make that emergency call; 3) they give their own name in making the call; 4) they stay with the person in need of medical attention until the help arrives; and, 5) the only way law enforcement becomes aware of their own possession or consumption of alcohol is because of their conduct in 1 – 4 above.

Similarly, under Act 139, limited immunity from charge and prosecution for certain drug offenses is provided if an individual calls 911 in the event of an overdose. To be protected under the law, individuals who report an overdose must give their names, stay with the person who overdosed until help arrives, and cooperate with law enforcement personnel. Drug offenses that are covered under this law are those related to possession of drug paraphernalia and small amounts of drugs. Individuals in possession of a quantity of drugs that constitutes as “intent to sell” are not protected under the Good Samaritan statute. The person who overdosed is also protected under the law where the person who made the call is protected.

The conduct of a student meeting the criteria of this statute will also be considered a mitigating factor in any disciplinary proceedings Saint Vincent conducts that arise out of the incident.