2008 Woodie Awards
SUNY-wide smoking ban near implementation
Benjamin Pomerance
Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: News
Originally published: 4/12/07 at 4:31 PM EST
Last update: 4/18/07 at 10:19 AM EST
Hartman, University Police Assistant Chief Jerry Lottie and PSUC Health Educator Jerimy Blowers began investigating possible perimeters around various campus buildings on Wednesday.
While the new SUNY policy applies only to residence halls, Hartman said the sub-committee will likely institute the smoke-free zone around all of the buildings on campus.
"This is going to be a difficult decision to make," Hartman said. "There are very strong feelings on both sides of this issue."
PSUC junior Nicholas Strange is one of those with strong feelings against the new policy. Smoking may be a personal choice, Strange said, but the SUNY Board of Trustees should not restrict any student's right to choose it.
"There are better ways of going about this," Strange, who "occasionally" smokes cigars, said. "I do not believe this new policy is going to really solve anything."
Strange said he would prefer designated "smoking doorways" in all of the residence halls.
That way, Strange said, students can smoke without wandering too far from the residence hall on a cold, North Country winter night, and non-smoking students will know which doorways to avoid when walking back to their dorms.
"There has to be some kind of middle ground here," Strange said. "I understand the rights non-smokers have, but smokers can't just be left out in the cold, either."
As a resident assistant, Strange said he will do his job to enforce whatever course of action the sub-committee sets. He will ask smokers to move away from the building and turn them in to Dean of Students Steve Matthews if they refuse. Yet Strange admits he will carry out these duties with a heavy heart.
"I just don't feel this is right," Strange said. "I really feel that there must be a better kind of policy that we are overlooking."
PSUC Political Science Chairperson Thomas Konda agreed that a better, middle-ground strategy should be found. As a new member of the sub-committee determining the local policy for the statewide plan, Konda said he has urged the committee to consider all possible angles of this issue before making any lasting decisions.
While the new SUNY policy applies only to residence halls, Hartman said the sub-committee will likely institute the smoke-free zone around all of the buildings on campus.
"This is going to be a difficult decision to make," Hartman said. "There are very strong feelings on both sides of this issue."
PSUC junior Nicholas Strange is one of those with strong feelings against the new policy. Smoking may be a personal choice, Strange said, but the SUNY Board of Trustees should not restrict any student's right to choose it.
"There are better ways of going about this," Strange, who "occasionally" smokes cigars, said. "I do not believe this new policy is going to really solve anything."
Strange said he would prefer designated "smoking doorways" in all of the residence halls.
That way, Strange said, students can smoke without wandering too far from the residence hall on a cold, North Country winter night, and non-smoking students will know which doorways to avoid when walking back to their dorms.
"There has to be some kind of middle ground here," Strange said. "I understand the rights non-smokers have, but smokers can't just be left out in the cold, either."
As a resident assistant, Strange said he will do his job to enforce whatever course of action the sub-committee sets. He will ask smokers to move away from the building and turn them in to Dean of Students Steve Matthews if they refuse. Yet Strange admits he will carry out these duties with a heavy heart.
"I just don't feel this is right," Strange said. "I really feel that there must be a better kind of policy that we are overlooking."
PSUC Political Science Chairperson Thomas Konda agreed that a better, middle-ground strategy should be found. As a new member of the sub-committee determining the local policy for the statewide plan, Konda said he has urged the committee to consider all possible angles of this issue before making any lasting decisions.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
mert2310
AJ Mertz (not Merdz)
posted 4/13/07 @ 1:48 PM EST
Smoking is cool and addictive, the job is practically done for us. Thanks Andre for getting my name wrong... your the man. The website also makes it look like I am the student who was charged with a drug stick up. (Continued…)
H
posted 4/14/07 @ 11:09 AM EST
I have asthma and can have an attack triggered solely by scents. Having lived on the second floor where I could not breathe at all, to the 10th floor where the smell of smoke still comes in my window and I want to die, there is no good place for a smoker to smoke for me. (Continued…)
bryan
posted 4/16/07 @ 11:59 PM EST
to "H" -
Close your window.
Hank
posted 4/18/07 @ 5:03 PM EST
Banning smoking, yet another infringement on our rights by the gov't. Add it to the ever-growing list of violations:
They violate the 1st Amendment by opening mail, caging demonstrators and banning books like "America Deceived" from Amazon. (Continued…)
mike
posted 4/19/07 @ 11:21 AM EST
Hey Bryan,
Close your mouth.
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