2008 Woodie Awards
Student Senate to make case against campus-wide tobacco ban with adminstrators
Rhiannon Sawtelle
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: News
The Student Senate opposed the recent campus-wide tobacco ban, but smokers are still in danger of losing their privileges.
Still in its early phases of development, the Tobacco Free Campus Committee (TFCC) is working on a decision for the university. In the long run, it is the administration that has the final say in the fate of campus smokers.
"Student Government's opposition is merely a recommendation," Sen. Christina Soyden said.
Smokers on campus face the possibility of joining the list of more than 60 universities that claim to be tobacco-free, including Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield.
With smoking policies already implemented on campus, student senators said the rules need to be better enforced before any changes can be made. Currently, each building on campus is supposed to have at least one smoke-free entrance and no smoking is allowed within 20 feet of the building or ventilation system.
"Right now the problem is in the open - people are smoking in doorways, near windows. Try to ban smoking and the problem moves indoors, into less-patrolled locations and into more dangerous spaces. The university needs to enforce the policy they have already. Until they can do that, it is not practical to consider one more stringent," said Vice President for Student Entertainment Derek Mitchell.
Problems with who would enforce these new policies are in question. The TFCC has proposed Student Affairs, Human Resources and event staff for public events as enforcers.
If the plan was put into action by the administration it would be a gradual shift that would lead to a tobacco-free campus. Student Government and the TFCC both support informational campaigns to raise awareness and give possible quitting assistance. In its preliminary phases, the TFCC is also looking into designating smoking areas on campus.
Student Government is attempting to stand for student rights. "While we recognize the health risks of smoking, we are looking to protect the rights of the entire student body. We feel that they are not effectively enforcing the current restrictions of distance from buildings in accordance with State Law," said Vice President of the Student Body Steven Moran.
Still in its early phases of development, the Tobacco Free Campus Committee (TFCC) is working on a decision for the university. In the long run, it is the administration that has the final say in the fate of campus smokers.
"Student Government's opposition is merely a recommendation," Sen. Christina Soyden said.
Smokers on campus face the possibility of joining the list of more than 60 universities that claim to be tobacco-free, including Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield.
With smoking policies already implemented on campus, student senators said the rules need to be better enforced before any changes can be made. Currently, each building on campus is supposed to have at least one smoke-free entrance and no smoking is allowed within 20 feet of the building or ventilation system.
"Right now the problem is in the open - people are smoking in doorways, near windows. Try to ban smoking and the problem moves indoors, into less-patrolled locations and into more dangerous spaces. The university needs to enforce the policy they have already. Until they can do that, it is not practical to consider one more stringent," said Vice President for Student Entertainment Derek Mitchell.
Problems with who would enforce these new policies are in question. The TFCC has proposed Student Affairs, Human Resources and event staff for public events as enforcers.
If the plan was put into action by the administration it would be a gradual shift that would lead to a tobacco-free campus. Student Government and the TFCC both support informational campaigns to raise awareness and give possible quitting assistance. In its preliminary phases, the TFCC is also looking into designating smoking areas on campus.
Student Government is attempting to stand for student rights. "While we recognize the health risks of smoking, we are looking to protect the rights of the entire student body. We feel that they are not effectively enforcing the current restrictions of distance from buildings in accordance with State Law," said Vice President of the Student Body Steven Moran.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Pete
posted 11/15/07 @ 7:23 AM EST
I don't understand why some of the students are against the ban. These campus bans are spreading quickly across the nation and there have been no major problem reported. (Continued…)
Greg
posted 11/15/07 @ 6:25 PM EST
Why would smokers be "quite happy" with having to go off campus just to smoke a cigarette. I'm a non-smoker and I think it's wrong to make one group of people be inconvenienced when the same end results can be achieved by enforcing the current rules of staying away from buildings. (Continued…)
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