After years of lobbying the University, EMeRG may finally have an ambulance.

University Police Department Chief Dolores Stafford said they purchased a used ambulance at a “reasonable price” and hopes the University will support EMeRG’s use of it. She did not say when the ambulance was purchased or for how much money.

“It is certainly exciting news,” said law student Harland Westgate, the student-run emergency response team’s public relations supervisor. “We’ve been trying to put a full, transporting ambulance in service for seven years now, and a significant step like that would be an indication that perhaps everyone involved is close to agreeing that this is really a very beneficial move for the GW community.”

Senior Vice President of Student and Academic Support Service Robert Chernak, who oversees UPD and EMeRG, said the University will be considering several factors when deciding if EMeRG will be eligible to use the ambulance.

Chernak said these factors include governmental and medical regulations, liability, costs, logistics and long-term sustainability of servicing the vehicle, among others.

The ambulance has been seen in a parking lot at the Virginia Campus in Loudoun County for more than a month, said staff at the campus. Stafford said administrators must approve EMeRG’s use of the vehicle before the group can operate it.

EMeRG members expressed frustration last April over the University’s bureaucratic roadblocks in preventing the organization from acquiring an ambulance. Chernak responded by saying he would meet with UPD and members of the Office or Risk Management to discuss the possibility of getting an ambulance.

Chernak did not say when a decision would be made about EMeRG’s use of the vehicle.

The University’s medical amnesty policy, which also affects the way EMeRG operates, has also undergone changes, University officials said.

In the past Student Judicial Services could issue alcohol violations to students who called EMeRG for a friend but were intoxicated and underage.

In August 2005 the University changed its medical amnesty policy to allow students with no University judicial record to be exempt from SJS sanctions for a first-time offense. The change was made after administrators met with members of the Student Association, UPD and SJS.

Since more meetings between administrators and SA officials took place last spring, the University changed its policy again granting full medical amnesty for all students regardless of their judicial background. The University did not say exactly when the change was made.

“This means that there should be no hesitation on the part of students to call for a friend or peer who is in need of medical attention,” said Brian Hamluk, director of Off-Campus Student Affairs. “A student who makes a phone call for a friend or peer will not be subject to any non-academic discipline provided there are no other violations of the Code of Student Conduct.”

Students within the SA, including law student Sen. Peter Feldman have been advocating for medical amnesty for the last three years.