Campus Dakota
Schools => North Dakota => North Dakota State University => Topic started by: pmp6nl on February 11, 2008, 11:12:07 PM
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NDSU group endorses smoking policy
Amy Dalrymple, The Forum
Published Monday, February 11, 2008
A proposed smoking policy at North Dakota State University is now in the hands of the president.
NDSU’s student government endorsed Sunday night a new policy that would prohibit smoking within 50 feet of doorways.
The group rejected the policy two weeks ago, but senators brought it back for reconsideration.
Student senators emphasized in their motion that they want the new policy to be advertised on campus and they want it to be enforced.
NDSU’s university senate and staff senate also have approved the policy.
President Joseph Chapman will make the final decision based on those recommendations.
A committee would discuss when the new policy would take effect. Josh Reimnitz, student body president, said possible dates would be July 1 or the beginning of fall semester.
Support for the smoking policy was split, although the student government did not take a roll call vote to determine how many voted against it.
NDSU student senator Wyatt Brossart said he opposes the smoking policy because it is unenforceable and it violates the rights of smokers.
Others raised questions about how students would determine a distance of 50 feet.
Student senator Joe Heilman said the purpose of the 50-foot rule is to make it clear to people that smoking is absolutely not tolerated near doors and entrances.
A more restrictive smoking ban may be put to a student vote this spring.
Some student senators are drafting legislation to ask students in the April election if they’d support a campuswide tobacco ban, Reimnitz said.
The results of that vote would be advisory and would not set a policy, he said.
A campuswide smoking ban at Minnesota State University Moorhead started in January. It prohibits smoking and use of chewing tobacco on university property, including outdoor areas.
A similar policy took effect at the University of North Dakota last fall.
Concordia College prohibits smoking within 20 feet of buildings.
The new Moorhead facility of Rasmussen College opened this spring as a smoke-free campus.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Amy Dalrymple at (701) 241-5590
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=191468§ion=news
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So I wont have to walk through plumes of smoke anymore?
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So I wont have to walk through plumes of smoke anymore?
Well that depends on enforcement and how students act towards this policy.
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Given how people at UND act, you're out of luck. I ran into a guy the other day who had lit his cigarette before he even left the building, and blew straight in my face as I walked in and he walked out.
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I hate it when they blow it right in your face.
Maybe eventually peer pressure will set in and it will change; I have heard this happening at other schools.
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I think this has happened nationwide over the last ten years--it just isn't "cool" to smoke anymore, in a lot of people's eyes, and I think it's had a huge impact.