SGA pushes for smoke-free campus

One of the most controversial resolutions that the ASU Student Government Association has put together was presented on Tuesday. "Promoting a Healthier Campus" pulls for ASU to be a smoke-free campus. The entire campus excluding Greek, staff and faculty housing, and Athletics' Facilities will be smoke-free if the resolution goes through.

Many campuses throughout Arkansas have become 100 percent smoke-free. University of Arkansas-Fayetteville is now smoke-free, even in its athletics' facilities.

There was much discussion between senators at the meeting addressing many sides to this resolution, good and bad.

The idea of building smoking facilities came up repeatedly, it was said that a lot of money would need to go into building these facilities, so it was not included into the resolution. There is a current restriction on smoking within 20 feet of campus buildings, but this rule is rarely enforced and SGA felt this resolution was in need.

Last semester, a petition went around campus to find how many students have a concern for a smoke-free campus. The petition developed a little more than 800 signatures.

According to the ASU Institutional Research office, there were 11,490 students enrolled at ASU last semester. Many senators at the meeting showed concern for how small a number of signatures were on the petition, compared to the amount of students on campus.

The goal of this resolution is to make ASU smoke-free by Jan. 1, 2010. There will be a six month acclimation put into effect, if passed. Signs will be put around campus announcing that ASU will be smoke-free and cards with the new policy will be handed out. SGA didn't think issuing a fine would be the right way to handle making ASU a smoke-free campus.

"The average person probably inhales more carcinogens painting their homes, cleaning their bathrooms or paying a visit to a bigger city and inhaling the smog, than people smoking outside. I know when it's in an enclosed area it's dangerous to people, but being outside is different," said Jason McGarrh, a senior agricultural business major from Brighton, Tenn., said.

He expressed his views to SGA at the meeting and they took his concerns into account.

Within the resolution, it stated that in addition to making a smoke-free campus there will be a "university sanctioned smoking cessation program available through Counseling Services or the Department of Wellness and Health Promotions for smokers who voluntarily desire to quit smoking."

"The cessation program mentioned is to go along with the foundation of this resolution, to promote health. We realize that we are taking something away from a select group of students, and this is our way to give back to them," said public relations director of SGA and College Against Cancer president Kyle Fulton.

Fulton is a senior biology major from Jonesboro.

"This is a way to get free help to stop an addiction for those that would like to quit. The entire resolution is not to 'infringe on smokers rights', but to promote a healthier campus for the students, faculty, staff, and visitors," Fulton said.

SGA also inducted two new freshman senators, Dani Fields, a political science major from Carlisle, and Sarah Jones, an undecided major from Magnolia. There was also another addition of a new sophomore senator, EJ Roussell, an exercise science major from Jonesboro.