2008 Woodie Awards
Smoking edict not in place yet
By: Leah Merriman
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Rumors circulated that an edict was declared by Webster University at the Student Government Association meeting Oct. 9 that no smoking was going to be allowed 20 feet from entrances to buildings on campus. This had some students, both smokers and nonsmokers alike, up in arms. However, President Richard Meyers said he knew nothing about it.
Meyers assigned the project to eliminate smoking on campus to Vice President of Student and Enrollment Management Deborah Dey's Green Committee this past week.
"Nobody announced that," Dey said. "It was a request made by a student." She said nobody had made any kind of decision about the smoking policy on campus yet, and nobody has taken any steps to follow up on the matter.
The Green Committee will meet the second week of the Fall II term to solicit input from the entire student body on the matter. The committee will want to come up with pros, cons and solutions for smoking, or nonsmoking, on campus, Dey said.
Liz Eisele, president of the Student Government Association, said the request was merely a suggestion by a student.
"We look into everything that's brought up," Eisele said. "But ultimately, it's entirely up to the administration. I don't know that we're pushing the issue (to ban smoking) really."
Dian Davitt, associate professor of nursing, gave an opinion on the matter from a medical standpoint.
"Based on what I think, no smoking is obviously the way to go," Davitt said. "But you can't just institute an all smoking ban immediately on any institution or place; you have to give fair notice."
She said there must be smoking clinics and pharmaceuticals available to people to help quit smoking.
"It's an addictive habit and it's very hard (to quit)," she said.
Meyers has said he would gladly dedicate university funds towards programs and medications to help students, faculty and staff quite smoking.
Davitt said if smoking on campus was to be eradicated, a date must be cited in order for everyone involved to prepare. She cited Ireland's ban on smoking as an example of a successful example of what WU could strive for. The people of Ireland were give a notice of the ban two years in advance and had classes and Nicorette gum to aid in helping people to quit smoking, she said.
"They did everything that they could, and when the ban went in, they didn't think it'd go over," Davitt said. "But it's worked out perfectly. There's no smoking in hotels, restaurants, bars or racetracks. It can be done, but you have to do a lot of preparation."
Last month, USA Today cited at least 43 campuses across the country as having gone smoke-free. At Youngstown State University in Ohio, smoking is allowed "only in surface parking lots and on sidewalks adjacent to roads." Other colleges debating the issue are the University of Iowa, Indiana University Bloomington, and the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.
Meyers assigned the project to eliminate smoking on campus to Vice President of Student and Enrollment Management Deborah Dey's Green Committee this past week.
"Nobody announced that," Dey said. "It was a request made by a student." She said nobody had made any kind of decision about the smoking policy on campus yet, and nobody has taken any steps to follow up on the matter.
The Green Committee will meet the second week of the Fall II term to solicit input from the entire student body on the matter. The committee will want to come up with pros, cons and solutions for smoking, or nonsmoking, on campus, Dey said.
Liz Eisele, president of the Student Government Association, said the request was merely a suggestion by a student.
"We look into everything that's brought up," Eisele said. "But ultimately, it's entirely up to the administration. I don't know that we're pushing the issue (to ban smoking) really."
Dian Davitt, associate professor of nursing, gave an opinion on the matter from a medical standpoint.
"Based on what I think, no smoking is obviously the way to go," Davitt said. "But you can't just institute an all smoking ban immediately on any institution or place; you have to give fair notice."
She said there must be smoking clinics and pharmaceuticals available to people to help quit smoking.
"It's an addictive habit and it's very hard (to quit)," she said.
Meyers has said he would gladly dedicate university funds towards programs and medications to help students, faculty and staff quite smoking.
Davitt said if smoking on campus was to be eradicated, a date must be cited in order for everyone involved to prepare. She cited Ireland's ban on smoking as an example of a successful example of what WU could strive for. The people of Ireland were give a notice of the ban two years in advance and had classes and Nicorette gum to aid in helping people to quit smoking, she said.
"They did everything that they could, and when the ban went in, they didn't think it'd go over," Davitt said. "But it's worked out perfectly. There's no smoking in hotels, restaurants, bars or racetracks. It can be done, but you have to do a lot of preparation."
Last month, USA Today cited at least 43 campuses across the country as having gone smoke-free. At Youngstown State University in Ohio, smoking is allowed "only in surface parking lots and on sidewalks adjacent to roads." Other colleges debating the issue are the University of Iowa, Indiana University Bloomington, and the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.
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