Committee recommends more campus smoking regulations
Smoking board recommends smoke-free zones on campus, among other changes
By: Owen Smith
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: News
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As the first of numerous planned changes to Portland State's smoking policy, the student store no longer sells tobacco products, and as of Tuesday afternoon, only a couple packs of Nat Sherman cigarettes were left.
After complaints were made to the University Safety Committee regarding on-campus smoking and tobacco use, the Smoking/Tobacco Use Sub-Committee was formed, with Student Health and Counseling Centeroutreach coordinator Gwyn Ashcom as committee chair.
"There's definitely other campuses that are becoming tobacco-free," Ashcom said. "Since it's something that hasn't been advertised, I think it's mainly the message that we're sending that we're not taking money from big tobacco."
Ashcom also said that the University of Oregon and Oregon State University already have policies in place forbidding the sale of tobacco on campus.
The committee compiled and released a comprehensive report evaluating university smoking policies on Wednesday, Oct. 10 that includes data from a survey on smoking-related issues from more than 2,000 respondents and lists several recommendations for substantive changes to the university smoking policy.
The report's recommended changes are expected to be included in a rough draft of a new campus smoking policy, which Ashcom said should be released sometime this year.
Many recommended changes involve creating smoke-free zones on campus, including banning smoking from the pathways between Smith Memorial Student Union (SMSU) and Neuberger Hall, and between SMSU and Cramer Hall.
The report also recommends banning smoking from in front of the library and improving anti-smoking signage. Ashcom said that the committee is talking to the Facilities and Planning department about building smoking shelters.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Mike Sawyer
posted 10/17/07 @ 2:31 AM PST
My praise to the student body of Portland State for this healthy move.
What do you think about the CEO of a "death trade" business serving on the Board of Directors of a college/university, The United Way, and YWCA. (Continued…)
Melisa King
posted 10/21/07 @ 10:48 PM PST
Just wanted everyone to know that there is some important legislation being discussed in regards to impedeing the sale and use of tobacco on the Portland State campus. (Continued…)
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