
Xiangru Chen
Members of the Tobacco-Free Task Force Brooke Bailey, senior plotical science and communication major, and Daphne Mertens, academic advisor at HPER, speak at the ASG meeting last Thursday. The proposition of no smoking in and around campus was recognized with a vote of 19-0-3 last Thursday in Senate Chamber.
Associated Student Government voted and passed Senate Bill 18004, the Tobacco and Smoke Free Campus Policy last Thursday. Emporia State is the last university under the Kansas Board of Regents to have enacted a tobacco-free policy.
The bill originated from ASG president Megan McReynolds, junior sociology major, and vice president Jacob Miller, sophomore communications major, and is sponsored by senator Shelby Marten, senior physical and health education major.
According to the preamble of the bill, the policy has been advocated by the Tobacco Free Task Force (TFTF), appointed by President Allison Garrett.
The coverage of tobacco products prohibited under the bill includes cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes.
“All forms of tobacco use are prohibited within all University buildings, facilities, grounds, parking lots, University-owned vehicles and property leased to, or managed by the University,” according to the bill.
This policy is welcomed by 71% of students, according to polls conducted by ASG and the TFTF.
The policy itself cites the importance of “establishing a culture of cooperation, courtesy and mutual respect for the health of…the community,” according to the bill’s compliance section. “Individuals may seek compliance by respectfully informing any person who is…using tobacco on campus that the University is a tobacco-free campus.”
The bill cites no other methods of enforcement aside from approaching violators of the policy and asking them to stop smoking, chewing, et cetera. It also does not specify, according to the amended version of the bill as passed by ASG, any punitive actions that can or will be taken by any party toward those who violate the policy.
“Every time you vote, you’re representing thousands of students,” said Lynn Hobson, dean of students. “The faculty senate will be passing this bill regardless of how (ASG) rules on it. Keep that in mind.”
The debate over the bill involved several statements by freshman senator Gage Simpson, political science major.
“The polls cited take into account only 19.6% of the student body,” Simpson said. “And, the incoming freshman class didn’t have the opportunity to vote on this.”
Simpson, who was later in the session elected president pro tempore of the senate, argued repeatedly for freshman input on the bill, and attempted to table the decision on the bill until the next ASG meeting. This was seconded by senator Caylie Ratzlaff, sophomore social sciences secondary education and English major.
The attempt failed on a vote of eight in favor, nine opposed, and one abstention.
“(The) grant will be lost if the bill is tabled even further,” said Brooke Bailey, chair of the TFTF and senior communications and political science major.
Bailey was referring to a $25,000 grant ESU received on the basis that the campus would implement a tobacco-free policy.
“Much of that funding is going toward signage around campus, and travelling to seminars,” Simpson said.
The faculty senate will be passing its own version of the bill.
ASG will meet next at 5:15 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Senate Chambers.