SectionsSmoking policy changes await Nietzel's review
Nic Stogsdill
Issue date: 1/19/10 Section: News
The Campus Tobacco Use/Smoking Advisory Committee gave its recommendation to the Administrative Council on Dec. 21.
Earle Doman, vice president of student affairs and head of the committee, said the recommendation contained two different policies to be put into place. One begins fall 2010 and includes designated smoking areas, and one makes the campus almost completely smoke-free and will be effective in August 2012.
"For the next two years we're going to have some limited smoking areas," Doman said. "Starting in 2012, we're going to be a smoke-free campus with some limited exceptions. One would be in your private car in the parking lot, (and) at some of the athletic entertainment venues while the public is here because they pretty much handle that right now."
President Michael Nietzel said in an e-mail he was generally supportive of the direction the committee has taken, but there were still a few things that needed revising before he could give his recommendation to the Administrative Council.
One of the issues needing to be clarified and revised concerns companies with possible ties to tobacco that rent out Missouri State's facilities.
"When people rent out our facilities there might be some connection to tobacco. An example would be the bull rides," Doman said.
He said they would not let the company hand out its product, but their logo was visible on the riders' shirts.
Another issue is the state requirement that all state employees have a smoking area available.
"There is still some difference of interpretation of what the current state statute says," Doman said. "You can read it to say that it only addresses indoor facilities, but then you can read it to encompass the whole campus. We are working through a legislator asking for a legal opinion from the attorney general's office if we can ban smoking."
Doman said even if the opinion was that it would be acceptable for the campus to be smoke-free, there could still be legal action brought against the university, but a favorable opinion would give Missouri State a good legal defense.
Earle Doman, vice president of student affairs and head of the committee, said the recommendation contained two different policies to be put into place. One begins fall 2010 and includes designated smoking areas, and one makes the campus almost completely smoke-free and will be effective in August 2012.
"For the next two years we're going to have some limited smoking areas," Doman said. "Starting in 2012, we're going to be a smoke-free campus with some limited exceptions. One would be in your private car in the parking lot, (and) at some of the athletic entertainment venues while the public is here because they pretty much handle that right now."
President Michael Nietzel said in an e-mail he was generally supportive of the direction the committee has taken, but there were still a few things that needed revising before he could give his recommendation to the Administrative Council.
One of the issues needing to be clarified and revised concerns companies with possible ties to tobacco that rent out Missouri State's facilities.
"When people rent out our facilities there might be some connection to tobacco. An example would be the bull rides," Doman said.
He said they would not let the company hand out its product, but their logo was visible on the riders' shirts.
Another issue is the state requirement that all state employees have a smoking area available.
"There is still some difference of interpretation of what the current state statute says," Doman said. "You can read it to say that it only addresses indoor facilities, but then you can read it to encompass the whole campus. We are working through a legislator asking for a legal opinion from the attorney general's office if we can ban smoking."
Doman said even if the opinion was that it would be acceptable for the campus to be smoke-free, there could still be legal action brought against the university, but a favorable opinion would give Missouri State a good legal defense.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
harleyrider1978
posted 1/19/10 @ 5:18 PM CST
Since 1981 there have been 148 reported studies on ETS, involving spouses, children and workplace exposure. 124 of these studies showed no significant causal relationship between second hand smoke and lung cancer. (Continued…)
jeremiah
posted 1/20/10 @ 4:52 PM CST
Utilitarianism at work.
The greatest good for the greatest many. The opinions of smokers don't carry weight because there are not enough of them.
Smokers make up a minority, and since there are no laws against the discrimination of smokers, then it is okay to regulate them to second class citizenry. (Continued…)
Katie
posted 1/26/10 @ 5:20 PM CST
Start the countdown for someone to come in and insist that smokers are too stupid for anyone to care abou-
Oh, wait. Already happened.
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