In an open forum hosted by the Student Government Association Tuesday afternoon, academic college senators voted 11-7 in support of a campus-wide ban on the use of tobacco products. A committee comprised of representatives from the President’s Office, Student Affairs, Residence Life, Student Health and the student body president, drafted a proposal of the ban. The proposal took into account multiple surveys involving students and faculty and the opinions represented pointed overwhelming to the approval of a smoke-free campus.
The survey results are undeniable with regard to the preference of a “smoke-free” campus—in the student surveys presented on the 2011 and 2012 on-campus assessment days, students supported the idea of having a smoke-free campus, with 73 percent support among 398 students who responded in 2011 and 71 percent support among 364 students who responded this year. Further, 74 percent of 370 faculty members sampled prefer a smoke-free campus.
Additionally, responses confirmed that both student and faculty are bothered by the smell of smoke, are bothered to see the remains of used tobacco products on campus, are bothered by cigarette-smoking on campus and are for the most part, tobacco-free themselves. So it seems as though the students and faculty who have offered a view would prefer a “smoke-free” campus. But the resolution passed by the SGA prohibits the use of all varieties of tobacco products, not limited to those that produce smoke.
Looking at just the facts, the use of dip and snuff is not explicitly mentioned in the surveys, aside from the negative reaction to remains left by dip. This aspect leaves some room to question whether or not the all-encompassing ban on tobacco products outlined in the proposal is representative of faculty and student opinion. Subsequent decisions on behalf of the Faculty Senate and the Board of Governors will determine the outcome of the ban, but as it stands there are, perhaps, some smoke and mirrors at work.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий