|
UNC system considers smoke-free campuses |
|
|
|
Tuesday, 11 September 2007 |
 | Wallace
|
by REBECCA GARDNER
News Reporter
Smoking is legal, but with the new state smoking law taking affect January 2008, smoking may be completely banned on campuses.
As of January 2008, every buildings on every campus will be smoke-free. This is a UNC state-wide law.
“I think what Gov. Easley had in mind was that nobody should have to breathe in second-hand smoke,”
Vice Chancellor for Student Development Cindy Wallace said.
The
law has two factors. With the current law, it is required that
universities provide a smoking alternative and places to smoke on
campus without banning it completely.
With the new law, the universities will not have the option to allow smoking in buildings.
A proposed change in this law would allow the university to decide whether to provide some smoking locations on campus.
“The second factor is up to the universities to decide individually and
consider things such as if they want their campus to be entirely
smoke-free,” Wallace said. “This factor is allowing campuses to look at
what is going to work for them.”
An example of the second part of the law is deciding whether to ban
smoking completely or to say smoking is banned 100 feet from state
buildings, Wallace said.
“There will be a campus-wide committee composed of student
representatives-a smoker and a non-smoker- and the same with faculty,
staff, and some researchers,” Student Government
Association President Forrest S. Gilliam said.
The committee will decide whether Appalachian State University will become completely smoke-free or not.
“We will be putting out surveys and we are looking at building a forum
to bring people in with the committee to look at how they feel,”
Gilliam said. “We want feedback, we want input and we have to go with
what is best for the campus and look at the positives and negatives
health-wise.”
The laws will apply to everyone on campus including faculty, staff, and students with no exceptions.
“I think the biggest impact will be in the highest rate among staff
members. Students seem to smoke casually, not consistently, like only
smoking when they drink,” Gilliam said.
The law to make Appalachian a smoke-free campus will be considered thoroughly.
“Students need to realize that the extent of this is determined on
campus. If students feel one way or another, they need to speak up so
those making the decision can be well-informed,” Gilliam said.
By the end of this week, SGA hopes to have something set up on their Web site.
“It is definitely important for students and staff to know,” Wallace
said. “If the Chancellor hasn’t made his decision yet, it is time for
students to weigh in on it.”
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Show/Hide comments