Syracuse University is updating its policy on alcohol-related emergencies, Student Association President Dylan Lustig announced in late February. Although updating the policy is important, the announcement lacked necessary details.

News the codes would change came out when Lustig mentioned it on CitrusTV’s ‘SA Today.’ Updating the policy adds a first step for students who are intoxicated and in need of medical assistance in alcohol-related emergencies. Instead of facing probation on first offense, students will be reprimanded.

The logistics of the policy still need to be determined before anything can be written into the codes, and the goal is to write the additional step into the codes by the end of the semester. Because the policy has to be part of the judicial system, it has to be written into its codes.

The lack of information given by SA and the university causes confusion for students. The policy was first referred to as a medical amnesty policy, but the proposed change would not grant full amnesty. Additionally, students may think they are able to call for services now without the intoxicated student being put on probation, but this is not the case yet.

If SA and the university are to acknowledge the change publicly, they must be able to provide specifics for students as to what the change entails and exactly when it will go into place. Moving forward, SA and the university should be open with information regarding the change and where they are in the process.