Smoking ban proposal still undecided

The motion for a new Campus Smoking Policy that would designate GCSU a smoke-free campus was sent back to the Resources, Planning and Institutional Policy Committee by the Senate April 20, and will be revisited next fall.

Chair of RPIPC Dr. Doug Oetter said the Senate chose to send the issue back to the committee because the motion would prohibit smoking on any GCSU property indoors or outdoors, except for so-called designated smoking areas not specified in the committee’s proposal. Oetter says he believed at the time the motion was drafted the administration should be responsible for determining those locations.

Now, RPIPC will bring the policy back with specified locations to the senate for a vote Fall 2009.

“We’re not trying to take away rights or be hypocritical. I’m gonna take steps to act on the policy. There’s a good chance (University Senate) will have to respond,” Oetter said.

A smoking ban proposal has been debated over the past year.

The Student Government Association wrote up the original motion earlier this semester in response to a student poll last fall in which 60 percent of students supported a smoke-free campus.

SGA’s proposal offered a compromise for smokers. As written by SGA’s Smoke-Free Campus Exploratory Committee, smoking would be restricted within 30 feet of building entrances, exits, open windows and air ducts. The idea of designated outdoor smoking areas was included.

Oetter said the drive behind the smoking ban were complaints from offices dealing with smoke seeping into air ventilation and the desire to free up popular entrances from secondhand smoke.

Additional issues surfaced after RPIPC and SGA hosted two open-forums. Covered smoking areas could cost upwards of $10,000, and the enforcement of the 30-foot smoke-free radius seemed unrealistic.

Dave Groseclose, assistant vice president for Public Safety, said he would not want officers to add a tape measurer to their holsters.

“I had a lot of concern with the original proposal because of the 30-foot rule. Anywhere along the front campus strip from Parks to Bell Hall, you couldn’t walk in a straight line and stay thirty feet away from every doorway,” Groseclose said. “It would be easier for me if there was a total ban on campus. Then, if you’re smoking on campus it’s a hard one to fight.”

In light of this, RPIPC used the basis of SGA’s earlier proposal to draft the new smoking policy which was presented at this month’s Senate meeting and referred back to the committee.

Smoking Ban Proposal Details

Oetter said the committee wanted to ensure GCSU would be smoke-free, while still providing convenient alternative areas for students and employees to exercise their right to light up.

First, the policy statement does not apply to sidewalks maintained and enforced by the City of Milledgeville. Groseclose said if people move to these surrounding sidewalks there is nothing Public Safety could do to stop them.

“We don’t want to force people on sidewalks,” Oetter said. “It affects our visibility if people ride by and see smokers.”

Also, according to Oetter, moving ashtrays away from entrances could provide an intermediate solution before the Senate revisits the issue next fall.

Bryan Jackson, director of university communications, says plans are being made to remove ashtrays near entranceways and put up

“no smoking” signs in these areas.

“People don’t want smoking around the fountain, offices or popular hangouts. It makes it feel like you’ve been smoking all day even if you’re not,” Oetter said. “It’s important to raise awareness that smoking is unhealthy and a pollution issue.”

Groseclose said it’s difficult to enforce a problem widely considered a common courtesy.

“We are just looking for some direction. Everything has been so loose in the past. It’s hard for us to enforce this no smoking thing when there are ashtrays out. Whatever the policy is when it comes out, we will do our best to enforce it,” Groseclose said.

Health Concerns

Director of Student Health Alice Loper said students should be more motivated to quit with all the information and education about its negative effects.

“I think people certainly have the right to smoke, but smoking harms other people. Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death. It affects nearly every organ of the body,” Loper said. “It seems, in this day and age, there is enough evidence to limit smoking anywhere in public.”

Amy Whatley, assistant director of wellness programs, supports a smoke-free campus. Whatley taught an eight-week smoking cessation class this semester, known as The American Lung Association Freedom from Smoking Program.

“We’ve lagged behind in that area. There are states and universities that are smoke-free. Cigarettes are the only product that if used correctly can kill you,” Whatley said.

This program will be offered every semester to aide students and employees attempting a major lifestyle change.

In the past, Loper has run a pulmonary rehab program where she has seen the effects of smoking and can’t see how people can argue that it isn’t hazardous.

“I would like to see no tobacco on campus period. I think it’s cleaner, easier and more fair,” Loper said. “Yes, you’re going to die of something, but I think there’s enough proof out there to show smoking does cause problems.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on May 1 2009. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry