Arkansas students push for total smoking ban on campus.JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) -- There are plenty of restrictions on smoking on campus at Arkansas State University Arkansas State University, at Jonesboro; coeducational; chartered 1909; named State Agricultural and Mechanical College, 1925–33. In 1933 the school became Arkansas State College, and in 1967 it achieved university status and adopted its present name. , but the Student Government Association wants to end the practice altogether. A measure that would ban campus smoking is in the discussion phase. From there it would have to get through the student senate and then be approved by the administration. The ASU campus would not be alone if the ban is approved. The University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas strives to be known as a "nationally competitive, student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the world." The school recently completed its "Campaign for the 21st Century," in which the university raised more than $1 billion for the school, used at Fayetteville banned smoking last July. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is part of the University of Arkansas System, a state-run university in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The main campus is located in Little Rock. in Little Rock is smoke-free, as is the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Established as Little Rock Junior College by the Little Rock School District in 1927, it became a private four-year institution, called Little Rock University, in 1957. It returned to public status in 1969 when it was merged into the University of Arkansas System under its present name. . Other state campuses with bans are University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and North Arkansas Community College in Harrison. Part of the proposal for ASU would include having the university offer a smoking cessation program. The proposal also includes a provision of allowing six months for students to adjust to the policy, if it passes. The measure is expected to be discussed at the next meeting of the Student Government Association. Last December, there was a petition drive on campus to ban smoking, which drew hundreds of signatures. Kyle Fulton, spokesman for the Student Government Association, said current smoking restrictions aren't getting the job done. Smokers have to light up outside, but Fulton said there's a lack of clarity as to where smoking is allowed. "That policy is extremely hard to enforce with the 20-feet rule, because the cigarette posts where they put their butts are within five feet of the door," Fulton said. Fulton said the SGA SGA abbr. small for gestational age Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) A term used to describe newborns who are below the 10th percentile in height or weight for their estimated gestational age. wants to eliminate cigarette posts from campus altogether, in the interest of public health. At least some students who smoke oppose the restrictions. "This is an open area. It's just like saying you can't smoke in a field. What's next, they're going to say we can't smoke in our car or in our house? Where's the limit?" Zach Elledge told Jonesboro television station KAIT. Smoker Nick Evans said a compromise is possible. "We need more designated areas further away from the main trafficking sidewalks here on campus so it doesn't bother all the non-smokers," Evans said. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion