Smoking ban proposal still undecided
Kyle Collins
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Campus News
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.
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.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Baja K
posted 5/02/09 @ 2:07 PM EST
It's sad that an institution of higher learning is treating the smoking ban crusade uncritically, as if it were legitimate.
* It is not about health. (Continued…)
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