To be, or not to be, a smoke and tobacco free campus: that is the question TAMUK administrators posed to students on Nov. 6 at an open forum.
On Oct. 1 Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) Chancellor John Sharp announced that vaping and the use of e-cigarettes will be banned on all properties across the system. That ban has already been implemented at TAMUK.
Chemical Engineering major Amy Tuley sees this move to ban vapes as reactionary.
“I think this whole vaping ban is a kneejerk reaction. I think it is unreasonable. I think that if you’re going to ban anything it should be cigarettes,” Tuley said.
In the wake of this ban, university officials are considering modifying the existing smoke-free rule.
The current smoke-free rule prohibits smoking in all designated non-smoking areas and in all university-owned buildings. The rule permits smoking, but not vaping or the use of e-cigarettes in open-air areas at a distance of 20 feet from doors and windows on campus.
The university is considering three options: no change to the rule, ban all tobacco products from all university buildings or ban all tobacco products from campus.
Students had mixed feelings on the prospect of banning all tobacco products from campus.
Tuley would go for dedicated smoking areas similar to the 20-foot policy already in place.
“What I would prefer to a smoke-free campus is that people actually adhere to that no-smoking within 20 feet of buildings, because people don’t even listen to that right now. We have tons of international students outside the EC [Engineering College] and they smoke right by the door,” Tuley said.
They smoke right by the [no-smoking] signs, which is just like a slap in the face. It’s just very disrespectful,” Chemical Engineering major Alex Oliveira added.
Karen Royal, director of compliance and risk management, led the forum and addressed the way in which violations of the vaping and potential tobacco ban will be handled.
“We believe that the guiding principal of enforcement has to do with respect for everybody. We ask that community members work to create this vaping free environment using community education,” Royal said.
Should people have repeated violations action may be taken.
Students could be referred to the dean of students’ office, where it will be treated as a code of conduct violation. For employees, staff members or contractors it could be handled by the department of human resources for sanctioning. If a visitor violates the rule, the University Police Department will handle the offense.
Oliveira is fine with smokeless tobacco and just wants clean air on campus. He said that he would be in favor of the campus-wide ban if the punishment was lighter.
“I think it [the ban] would send a clear message saying that we just don’t allow that. We don’t accept smoking of any kind on the premises of the university,” Oliveira said. “I would be okay with just a citation. Start with like $25, $50; make it sting but not unreasonable.”
Tuley also does not agree with such a severe punishment.
“I think we need to know what that action is ahead of time, because we need to have a say on how proportional that is. I don’t think that if someone goes outside and smokes a cigarette they should be put on like academic suspension, even if they’ve done it a few times,” Tuley said.
Texas A&M University-San Antonio is currently the only smoke and tobacco free campus in the TAMU system, but Texas A&M and Texas A&M Texarkana will become smoke and tobacco free on Dec. 1 and Jan. 1, respectively.
There will also be forums for the faculty and staff to voice their opinions.
Ultimately the president’s council will make a recommendation to President Mark Hussey, Ph. D who will make the final decision.
Members of the president’s council are Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. G. Allen Rasmussen, Vice President of Enrollment Management Dr. Maureen Croft, Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Jacob Flournoy, Vice President of Institutional Advancement & External Relations and CEO of Texas A&M-Kingsville Foundation Brad Walker, Executive Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation Steve Roach, Acting Director of Student Affairs Antonia Alvarez, Karen Royal, Director of Marketing and Communication Adriana Garza-Flores, and Chief of Staff Randy Hughes.