| Feedback for tobacco-ban returns split results |
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| Written by Joan Khalaf, The Shorthorn senior staff | ||||
| Monday, 26 October 2009 08:29 PM | ||||
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A nearly split response from the community’s final word on a tobacco ban is being reviewed by President James Spaniolo, who said he will make the decision within the next few weeks. The committee studying the issue solicited a last round of feedback via e-mail and committee chair Jean Hood summarized the 216 responses — 109 against and 107 for the ban — Friday. Most for the ban cited potential health risks, while those against voiced concerns about personal rights, Hood said. She said at least four of the responses appeared neutral — saying that they were for the ban, but only if designated smoking areas were built on campus. Hood counted those as against the ban since designated areas was a hinging factor. She said the feedback was a small sample of the population. “I believe that people who are for something often don’t come out and respond in comments like that,” she said. “It’s been my experience that people against the change respond more than people who are for the change.” Nursing junior Caitlin Wright sent out an e-mail to some university staff and asked them to get the word out about submitting feedback. “The Tobacco-Free Initiative, if approved, will affect every single person in the UTA community, including faculty, staff, students and residents,” she said. “I felt it was extremely important for everyone to know they had an opportunity to voice their opinion.” Wright said she talked with some administration about the issue, though she didn’t submit feedback to the committee. “I don’t necessarily think it is fair for the university to tell people they can’t smoke on UTA property,” she said. “I strongly feel that administration should focus on enforcing the 50-foot rule before implementing other possibilities.” The Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative committee looked at other tobacco- and smoke-free campuses and solicited feedback by holding open forums and distributing an online survey. Of the 29,000 students, faculty and staff surveyed, 11 percent responded. Fifty-four percent strongly agreed with a tobacco-free campus and 27 percent strongly disagreed. A sample of additional comments in the survey showed those for the ban wanted it due to health and campus maintenance cost and those against would liked the current policy to be enforced. The current policy states that no one may use chewing tobacco, snuff or smoke inside buildings or within 50 feet of campus buildings. Business management senior Stephen Daniel said he took the survey in spring because as a Kalpana Chawla Hall resident assistant he saw many residents smoking where they shouldn’t. “It got annoying to tell them where to go,” he said. “It would really stink for them to have to go across the street if it’s raining outside or something. I think it’d be fine to have a tobacco ban, but at least give them a place where they can go.” The committee submitted four recommendations to President James Spaniolo last month, asking that the campus become tobacco-free by August 2011 with a gradual lead-in period that would include a community-wide campaign and tobacco cessation classes. Spaniolo wouldn’t comment Monday on the feedback. Views: 377 | E-mail
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