2008 Woodie Awards
Campus-wide tobacco ban
Plan will be implemented, the question is when and how
Jessica Fish
Issue date: 3/24/08 Section: News
Plans which would prohibit having any kind of tobacco product on the UMaine campus, including chewing tobacco were presented to the General Student Senate Tuesday night.
Sue Bernier, a representative from the Tobacco Free Campus Committee spoke at the meeting. The University of Maine hired Bernier to help direct efforts to make UMaine a tobacco free campus in the next few years.
Bernier said she hoped to answer some questions and to hear students' opinions about the new program.
"The committee's goal is to be completely clear about our plans," Bernier said.
The new program would apply to students, faculty, staff and any visitors to the campus. Any building on school property, including the fraternities located on College Avenue, will be asked to comply.
Currently, smoking is prohibited indoors and within 20 feet of any buildings.
One senator asked how the tobacco ban would be enforced. Bernier had no clearly defined answer, but stressed that the committee was focusing on compliance, rather than resorting to punitive measures.
She said President Kennedy will announce the plan in September, but it could take up to 12 months to implement it fully. Depending on students' responses, she said that it could take as long as three years before UMaine is tobacco free.
"The decision has been made to go tobacco free - the question is just how and when," Bernier said.
When asked if there was going to be a place for people to smoke off campus, Bernier did not answer the question directly, but said the idea was to "fundamentally change the environment."
Several senators questioned whether the university has a right to tell students and faculty that they cannot use tobacco on campus.
Sen. Carl Anderson said he could see the benefits of such a plan, but thought it would infringe on the rights of students. He also asked why the decision was made to go tobacco free before research was done to gather student opinion. Bernier answered that the plan has the approval of the administration and faculty senate but that "it's students' jobs to question, to challenge the decided - that's what we're looking to you for."
Sue Bernier, a representative from the Tobacco Free Campus Committee spoke at the meeting. The University of Maine hired Bernier to help direct efforts to make UMaine a tobacco free campus in the next few years.
Bernier said she hoped to answer some questions and to hear students' opinions about the new program.
"The committee's goal is to be completely clear about our plans," Bernier said.
The new program would apply to students, faculty, staff and any visitors to the campus. Any building on school property, including the fraternities located on College Avenue, will be asked to comply.
Currently, smoking is prohibited indoors and within 20 feet of any buildings.
One senator asked how the tobacco ban would be enforced. Bernier had no clearly defined answer, but stressed that the committee was focusing on compliance, rather than resorting to punitive measures.
She said President Kennedy will announce the plan in September, but it could take up to 12 months to implement it fully. Depending on students' responses, she said that it could take as long as three years before UMaine is tobacco free.
"The decision has been made to go tobacco free - the question is just how and when," Bernier said.
When asked if there was going to be a place for people to smoke off campus, Bernier did not answer the question directly, but said the idea was to "fundamentally change the environment."
Several senators questioned whether the university has a right to tell students and faculty that they cannot use tobacco on campus.
Sen. Carl Anderson said he could see the benefits of such a plan, but thought it would infringe on the rights of students. He also asked why the decision was made to go tobacco free before research was done to gather student opinion. Bernier answered that the plan has the approval of the administration and faculty senate but that "it's students' jobs to question, to challenge the decided - that's what we're looking to you for."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Dan
posted 3/24/08 @ 2:35 PM EST
I understand that tobacco causes cancer. And I understand that smoking exposes people around the smoker, so banning smoking makes some amount of sense. (Continued…)
Pete
posted 3/24/08 @ 3:44 PM EST
I have asthma and certainly strongly support banning smoking anywhere on campus. Even outdoors I have problems when walking through clouds of smoke when passing groups of smokers on busy paths, or when there are groups of them in front of campus buildings. (Continued…)
Travis Crafts
posted 3/24/08 @ 8:36 PM EST
O.K. folks...here is how it works.
1) My rights end when they infringe on another person's rights.
B) Smoking is legal as long as the imbibing party is of age. (Continued…)
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