It is of the utmost importance that one calls for medical assistance when a student(s) is severely intoxicated or seriously injured after consuming alcohol or drugs. Because these emergencies can be life threatening, Viterbo works to reduce barriers to seeking assistance.

The university recognizes that sometimes concern about Viterbo disciplinary action may deter students from seeking medical assistance for themselves or others in drug- or alcohol-related emergencies. Therefore, Viterbo University will not take disciplinary action for a violation of Viterbo’s Code of Student Conduct, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Policy, or other university policies, against those students who seek emergency medical assistance for themselves or other students. This protection is not available to those students who violate other university policy that warrants disciplinary action (e.g., students who are disruptive or combative, refuse treatment, possess a false identification, commit assault, and/or do property damage).

The university also recognizes the significant threat to health and safety of ingesting dangerous amounts of alcohol and/or drugs and will work to ensure the involved student receives appropriate education and evaluation in order to reduce this risk. As a result, any student for whom assistance is sought under this policy will be required to complete education, assessment, and/or possible referral for treatment. The student will be responsible for any associated costs. In the event the student incurs any alcohol violation during the 12-month period following the Good Samaritan report, the prior assistance file may be reviewed as part of the sanctioning process but will not be counted as a prior alcohol offense for the purpose of imposing mandatory minimum sanctions.

It is Viterbo’s expectation that a student will avoid disciplinary action under this Good Samaritan policy only once; it is an opportunity to learn from a serious mistake and take healthy steps to avoid such mistakes in the future. The policy does not prevent action by police, or other legal authorities nor does it protect a reporting student from potential criminal or civil liability.

Medical emergencies: Alcohol and/or drug consumption/misuse can result in a medical emergency. Students and/or staff should request help with such an emergency immediately by visiting a hospital emergency room and/or by contacting 911, Campus Security, Health Services or Student Life.

Voluntary Seeking Assistance: When a student recognizes that she or he has difficulty with substance abuse and agrees to voluntary withdrawal to participate in a comprehensive substance abuse treatment program at his or her own expense, penalties incurred for disruptive behavior resulting from the use of alcohol and/or drug consumption may be waived.

Viterbo University is a smoke and tobacco free campus. Viterbo University helps ensure a healthy campus environment by prohibiting the use, sale, advertisement, and distribution of smoking and tobacco products including, but not limited to cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, etc. Smoking and tobacco products are prohibited from being utilized in university facilities, on university grounds, on sidewalks on and adjacent to university property, in university parking lots, at university-sponsored events, and in university vehicles. Policy violations may be reported to Campus Safety and Security, Human Resources, and/or Student Life. Persons violating this policy may be subject to disciplinary action.

Students and employees interested in smoking cessation are encouraged to contact Wisconsin Quit Line at 1-800- QUIT NOW. The Wisconsin Quit Line is available 24/7 and provides free medications, life coaching and web forums. Viterbo Health Services and Counseling Service are also available for assistance.

The Viterbo University Code of Student Conduct includes the following as prohibited behaviors:

1. Use, possession, sale, manufacturing, and/or distribution of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, marijuana, CBD oil, prescribed drugs, synthetics, heroin, narcotics, and/or other substances.
   1. Alcohol and/or other drug intoxication regardless of age. Indicators of alcohol and/or other drug intoxication may be blood/breath alcohol concentration above the legal limit of 0.08, bloodshot or glassy eyes, blurred vision, confusion, chills or sweating, irrational conversation, mood swings, rapid eye movement, slurred speech, strong odor of alcohol or other drugs, unsteady walk or gait, or other actions that signify poor judgment.
   2. Inability to exercise care for one’s own safety and/or the safety of others due to intoxication.
   3. Behavior that encourages or contributes to excessive alcohol consumption by any student.
   4. Alcoholic beverages may not, in any circumstances, be used, possessed and/or distributed to any person under 21 years of age.
   5. No alcohol is allowed in an on-campus housing room or apartment unless all assigned residents and guests present are 21 or older.
   6. Alcohol and drugs may be confiscated by Student Life and/or Campus Safety and Security personnel.
   7. Prescription drugs are permitted on university property only for use by the person to whom the prescription is written.
2. Violation of any federal (USA), state (Wisconsin) or local law (City of La Crosse or La Crosse County). When off-campus incidents come to the attention of university officials, the officials may follow up with disciplinary action. This may occur following parties, study abroad, travel for university-sponsored events, team travel, etc.
3. Use, sale, advertisement or distribution of tobacco products (i.e., cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, etc.) in university facilities, on university grounds, at university events, and in university fleet vehicles.
   These stipulations are also university policy:
   1. Serving alcohol to an individual who has not reached 21 years of age is prohibited on Viterbo property and at university-sponsored events.
   2. Moderate amounts of alcohol (i.e., no more than 12 cans of beer, one bottle of liquor no more than 1.75 oz., or one one-liter bottle of wine per person) are permitted and may be consumed in the privacy of on-campus housing facilities when all occupants and/or guests present in the room are 21 years of age or older. In such cases, the doors should be closed and all other policies governing noise and other common courtesies must be followed.
   3. All assigned occupants of a residence hall room or apartment are subject to disciplinary action if a guest or someone in the unit is violating alcohol, tobacco, and other drug policies.
4. No large quantities of alcohol will be permitted in university housing facilities (see 3.b) or on travel associated with the university. Providing alcohol to others puts the community and its members at risk.
5. Common source containers of alcohol (i.e., punch bowls, trashcans, water coolers, etc.) and/or containers holding more than 1.75 liters of alcohol, whether empty or full, tapped or untapped (i.e., beer balls, kegs, party balls, pony kegs, etc.) are not permitted on university property, at university-sponsored events or on travel associated with the university. Jell-O shots containing alcohol, pre-mixed punches, spiked punch, “garbage can punch” and other mixtures are considered to be excessive and are prohibited on university property, at university-sponsored events or on travel associated with the university regardless of alcohol content.
6. Drinking games and other activities which promote excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages are prohibited on university property, at university-sponsored events and on travel associated with the university. Any paraphernalia associated with such activities, including but not limited to beer pong tables, funnels, and shot glasses may be confiscated and not returned.
7. The possession, use, and/or displaying of alcohol, tobacco, and/or drug paraphernalia is prohibited on campus. For the purpose of this policy, paraphernalia is defined as items typically used to dispense alcohol, or to dispense or ingest tobacco or illegal drugs (i.e., bongs, funnels, hookahs, kegs, pipes, hookah pens, roach clips, shot glasses, empty bottles, etc.). Any related paraphernalia will be confiscated. Such confiscated items will not be returned.
   
   Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at events planned for students and/or students’ families (such as athletic team banquets, club parties/dances, receptions associated with student art shows and/or student recitals, and events planned for adult learning, graduate, and/or non-traditional students, etc.) unless approved by the Director of the Fine Arts Center and/or the Vice President for Student Affairs. Use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited at all other university-sponsored events unless approved by the president of the university.
8. The service and/or sale of alcoholic beverages is not permitted on university premises or at university-sponsored functions during the working day from 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
9. University employees may not store alcohol in offices or use alcoholic beverages on university property.
10. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at university-sponsored athletic events on and off-campus.
11. Alcohol or other drug impaired driving on university property is strictly prohibited and may result in disciplinary action.
12. Drivers or passengers in university fleet vehicles or vehicles rented/utilized for university travel may not possess or consume alcoholic beverages.
13. Grain alcohol (also known as ethanol or ethyl alcohol) is prohibited on university property, at university-sponsored events or on travel associated with the university except when used in a supervised classroom laboratory.
14. Viterbo Campus Safety and Security personnel may request that the La Crosse Police Department (LCPD) perform a voluntary breathalyzer test of: (a) individuals who are visibly intoxicated to help assess the need for medical treatment, and (b) individuals to demonstrate that they have not been drinking. Persons may request the breathalyzer test to demonstrate that they have not been drinking. When a breathalyzer is requested by Campus Safety and Security, persons have the right to refuse it. Individuals may not refuse being transported to the hospital when incapacitated. At Viterbo, breathalyzers are used only by members of the LCPD.
15. Exemption to the policy must be approved by the Director of the Fine Arts Center or the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Student-athletes are responsible for adherence to policy outlined in the Code of Student Conduct; the Viterbo University Policy on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs; local, state and federal regulations; and standards imposed by the coach. In addition, all Viterbo student-athletes regardless of age are required:

1. To refrain from the consumption of alcoholic beverages for 48 hours prior to any university-sponsored competitive event.
2. To report their own on-and off-campus alcohol or drug violations to the team coach and the Director of Athletics.
   Typically, these sanctions are imposed by the team coach and the Director of Athletics in addition to the sanctions imposed by university personnel responsible for the enforcement of the Code of Student Conduct. These sanctions may carry forward to the following year.
   1. First Violation – Suspended 10% of team’s NAIA allowable contests or dates.
   2. Second Violation – Suspended an additional 20% of team’s NAIA allowable contests or dates.
   3. Third Violation – Suspended one calendar year of athletics competition.
   4. Fourth Violation – Permanently suspended from all further athletic participation at Viterbo University.
3. Should a student-athlete seek medical assistance for themselves, or others, the medical amnesty/good Samaritan policy applies.

Viterbo University Sanctions: Disciplinary sanctions for violation of university regulations may include warning, disciplinary probation, discretionary or educational assignments, fines, motivational interview, parental notification, referrals, restitution, restrictions or loss of privileges, residence unit suspension, residence unit expulsion, temporary suspension, suspension from the university, or expulsion from the university. Under federal law, the university may notify the parents of alcohol and drug violations if the student is under the age of 21 at the time of notification. While the sanction imposed depend upon the severity of the offense and the history of offenses (if any), disciplinary sanctions typically follow this pattern:

1. First Offense – $75 fine, mandatory education program, and/or parental notification.
2. Second Offense – $150 fine, discretionary assignment, payment for and completion of and compliance with a chemical dependency assessment, candidate for residence unit expulsion, and/or parental notification.
3. Third Offense – $225 fine, discretionary assignment, payment for and completion of and compliance with a chemical dependency assessment, candidate for residence unit expulsion, and/or parental notification.

Any student found responsible for the use or possession of illegal substances may face possible criminal charges. Violations of the drug policy may result in disciplinary action. In addition, the university may require a student to participate in an approved drug rehabilitation program (at the expense of the student) and to provide the university satisfactory evidence of successful completion of the program and of being drug free.

When it is not possible to determine who within a group of students is responsible for the use, possession, manufacture, sale or distribution of drugs, responsibility for the offense will fall on the occupant in whose room, vehicle or social gathering the violation occurs unless another individual within the group accepts responsibility.

While the sanctions imposed depend upon the severity of the marijuana offense and the history of offenses (if any), disciplinary measures typically follow this pattern; but may vary:

1. First Offense – a $100 minimum penalty, a mandatory education program, a warning that another violation may result in suspension or eviction from university housing facilities, and/or parental notification.
2. Second Offense – a $200 penalty, a mandatory alcohol and drug assessment, compliance with treatment outlined in the assessment (if any), and a warning of probable suspension or eviction from university housing facilities with another violation, and/or parental notification.
3. Third Offense – $300 penalty, referral to Director of Student Life for additional penalties that may include suspension or removal from housing facilities, and/or parental notification.

Offenses involving other drugs (i.e., prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, CBD oil, and others) will be reviewed and sanctioned on a case-by-case basis.

Community Sanctions: Viterbo students are subject to sanctions imposed by officials in their local and/or home communities as well as those imposed by the university. Fines typically imposed on those found to be drinking alcoholic beverages under the age of 21 are shown below. Sanctions usually involve payment for and the completion of an alcohol assessment in addition to the prescribed fines.

Underage Possession or Consumption, Underage Attempt or Procurement, Attempt or Entering Tavern, Possession of False ID

Other Penalties

The Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Chapter 961, of the Wisconsin Statutes regulates controlled substances and details the penalties for violations. An individual convicted for first-time possession of a controlled substance may receive a sentence of up to $5,000 and one year in prison. A person convicted for manufacturing, delivering or possessing a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture or deliver may be imprisoned for up to 30 years and be fined up to $100,000.

Federal legal sanctions for other drug violations include imprisonment for up to six years for possession of a small amount including less than 250 grams of marijuana. Possession of more than five grams of cocaine with the intent to deliver may result in the penalty of 10–16 years imprisonment. A life sentence may be the result of conviction of possession of a controlled substance that results in bodily injury or death. Other sanctions for possession of a controlled substance include fines up to $250,000, forfeiture of property, confiscation of property, community service, denial of federal benefits including student loans and financial aid, fines, imprisonment, mandatory assessment, suspension of driver’s license, and/or probation. The severity of the disciplinary action depends upon the amount and type of controlled substance, the number of previous offenses, and the site and nature of the criminal activity.

Viterbo University is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in compliance with applicable state and federal laws. The unlawful possession, use, distribution, dispensation, sale, or manufacture of controlled substances is prohibited on university premises and at university work sites. Use of alcoholic beverages at university events is prohibited except when approved by the Director of the Fine Arts Center or the Vice President for Student Affairs as appropriate.

Employee violation of this policy may be cause for action including, but not limited to, referral to appropriate agency or agencies for evaluation and to determine the appropriate treatment or rehabilitation, participation in a drug rehabilitation program, separation from university duty, termination of employment, and/or referral for prosecution. Participation in a treatment program will not affect future employment or career advancement, nor will participation protect employees from disciplinary action for substandard job performance. Students who violate this policy will be governed by the university’s Code of Student Conduct and subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension, expulsion and referral for prosecution.

Under the requirements of the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, an employee who is convicted of any criminal drug offense must notify his or her supervisor within five days. When notified of an employee conviction for an offense occurring in the workplace by an employee working on a federal grant or contract, the university will inform the granting or contracting federal agency within 10 days.

• www.alcoholscreening. org
• www.zeroinwisconsin.gov
• www.smokefree.gov
• www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm

Alcohol consumption causes a number of marked changes in behavior. Even low doses significantly impair the judgement and coordination required to drive a car safely, increasing the likelihood that the driver will be involved in an accident. Low to moderate doses of alcohol also increase the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including abuse. Moderate to high doses of alcohol cause marked impairments in higher mental functions, severely altering a person’s ability to learn and remember information. Very high doses cause respiratory depression and death. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower doses of alcohol will produce the effects just described.

Repeated use of alcohol can lead to dependence. Sudden cessation of alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. Long-term consumption of large quantities of alcohol, particularly when combined with poor nutrition, can also lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and liver.

An accompanying chart lists the possible effects and health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and controlled substances.