2008 Woodie Awards
Smoking ban still on the front burner
Proposal slated to take effect July 2, issues of enforcement yet to be clarified
by Nicholas Larson
Issue date: 1/24/08
Section: Campus News
The proposed campus-wide smoking ban will clear its first informal review period this month and head to a second and final review in February. The ban - which would prohibit the use of smoking and smokeless tobacco products - is scheduled to take effect July 2.
The policy, that was proposed in August 2006, has created polarized reaction so far.
"You really honestly get a pretty [even] split," said Minnesota State Student Association President Christopher Frederick. "A lot of the students who are hard-core against the smoking ban are students who don't even smoke, just all about [other's] rights…you have students who are smokers and for the campus-wide smoking ban."
During the informal review period, students and staff were encouraged to make comments and suggestions to be considered for the formal review, scheduled for next month. The committee that drafted the policy is headed by Finance and Administration Vice President Richard Straka, who said they have, "taken those comments under consideration."
He added, "When we get to the formal review stage, and as we report, I think that's going to be the time for the university to have the debate of whether now is the time to make that switch and implement that policy."
Malcolm O'Sullivan, Director of Student Information and Policy, said comments received during the informal review mainly expressed personal opinions either supporting or opposing the ban, or questioned the issue of how such a policy would be enforced.
The current language states: "No one individual or department will be assigned to enforce the policy."
"I don't think anyone feels that they have found the solution to enforcement," Straka said, reiterating what has been the biggest challenge facing the implementation of campus smoking bans across the nation.
If, how, and by whom citations would be administered has not been discussed at length.
"It's very similar to what exists at other institutions," Straka said. "We haven't found a lot of places where it becomes the responsibility of a specific security department or the specific smoking police or anything like that."
"Some schools have absolutely no problem without an enforcement piece, some schools will see people just blatantly smoking without [it]," said Wendy Schuh, assistant director of Student Health Services and a fellow committee member.
Another concern is how to provide support for on-campus smokers who will be unable to smoke for large portions of their day.
"The key to a successful implementation of a non-smoking program has got to be that we have the resources available for cessation programs for those people who want to do that," Straka said. "If this is implemented, we'll ramp up the cessation resources available to people who might want to quit."
Straka encouraged students to continue to voice their concerns on the MSU website.
"Make comments as you can. It's important [for students] to understand that your official voice is your student government," he said.
Despite attempts to build a popular consensus, the divisive nature of the issue will likely remain at the forefront.
"It's a real tough split right now, and I think that either way it goes, we're not going to please everybody," Frederick said.
Nicholas Larson is a Reporter staff writer
The policy, that was proposed in August 2006, has created polarized reaction so far.
"You really honestly get a pretty [even] split," said Minnesota State Student Association President Christopher Frederick. "A lot of the students who are hard-core against the smoking ban are students who don't even smoke, just all about [other's] rights…you have students who are smokers and for the campus-wide smoking ban."
During the informal review period, students and staff were encouraged to make comments and suggestions to be considered for the formal review, scheduled for next month. The committee that drafted the policy is headed by Finance and Administration Vice President Richard Straka, who said they have, "taken those comments under consideration."
He added, "When we get to the formal review stage, and as we report, I think that's going to be the time for the university to have the debate of whether now is the time to make that switch and implement that policy."
Malcolm O'Sullivan, Director of Student Information and Policy, said comments received during the informal review mainly expressed personal opinions either supporting or opposing the ban, or questioned the issue of how such a policy would be enforced.
The current language states: "No one individual or department will be assigned to enforce the policy."
"I don't think anyone feels that they have found the solution to enforcement," Straka said, reiterating what has been the biggest challenge facing the implementation of campus smoking bans across the nation.
If, how, and by whom citations would be administered has not been discussed at length.
"It's very similar to what exists at other institutions," Straka said. "We haven't found a lot of places where it becomes the responsibility of a specific security department or the specific smoking police or anything like that."
"Some schools have absolutely no problem without an enforcement piece, some schools will see people just blatantly smoking without [it]," said Wendy Schuh, assistant director of Student Health Services and a fellow committee member.
Another concern is how to provide support for on-campus smokers who will be unable to smoke for large portions of their day.
"The key to a successful implementation of a non-smoking program has got to be that we have the resources available for cessation programs for those people who want to do that," Straka said. "If this is implemented, we'll ramp up the cessation resources available to people who might want to quit."
Straka encouraged students to continue to voice their concerns on the MSU website.
"Make comments as you can. It's important [for students] to understand that your official voice is your student government," he said.
Despite attempts to build a popular consensus, the divisive nature of the issue will likely remain at the forefront.
"It's a real tough split right now, and I think that either way it goes, we're not going to please everybody," Frederick said.
Nicholas Larson is a Reporter staff writer
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