Smoking ban set to start June 1

A new GCSU smoking policy – limiting smoking to only within certain designated smoking areas – is set to go into effect June 1. The policy passed the University Senate on Nov. 30, however, time and preparation needed to take place before proceeding with the implementation of the policy.

“(The) Wellness Center wanted to offer classes before the non-smoking signs were posted,” said Pete Shields, vice president for Business and Finance.

Shields said the university wanted to make sure there were available funds at the end of this fiscal year to implement this policy.

Setting up the areas, moving ash cans and educating the students, faculty and staff about the new policy takes time.

“It is easier to do this type of work around campus when it’s not busy,” Shields said.

Students and faculty participated in a poll from Aug. 29 to Oct. 29, 2009, with 63 percent said they were in approval of the smoking ban. The university took these results into account with a compromise.

“We think (the policy) will work out well (for the campus) and that is why we did designated smoking areas over a complete ban from smoking,” Shields said.

Another possible problem was addressed if smoking were banned completely on GCSU campus.

“Public sidewalks would be trashy if campus was 100 percent as (cigarettes) were discarded (when entering campus),” Shields said.

Associate director of Auxiliary Services Greg Brown summed up the policy in one sentence.

“Campus is a non-smoking area unless a sign deems it as a designated smoking area,” Brown said.

The university hopes with the new policy in place, incoming freshman will help alleviate the peer pressure of smoking.

“We hope for less social pressure for freshman to start smoking,” Shields said.

Some students don’t appear to be surprised by the new policy since it seems to be a trend followed by some other public places in Georgia lately.

“I guess it was inevitable because a lot of public places (are restricting smoking),” freshman rhetoric major McCray West said. “But (this policy) doesn’t bother me personally.”

Some students adamantly oppose the new smoking policy.

“I think its stupid. We are old enough to make adult decisions,” sophomore education major Spencer Norris said. “We’re not blowing it in your face. It’s not like we’re smoking indoors. We’re in the open air.”

The areas that have been designated for smoking are not set in stone. If some areas are not utilized to their full potential, or if there are areas that would be more appropriate for a designated area, the university is willing to be flexible.

“Like any plan, it will be changed over time,” Shields said.

Posted by Matt Rogers on Apr 23 2010. 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