New tobacco policy could create challenges for UA officials, students
The Traveler Editorial Board
Issue date: 8/22/07 Section: Opinion
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Smokers on campus will have to adjust to a nonsmoking environment next year, as Chancellor John A. White recently finalized a plan to change the UA to a tobacco-free campus beginning July 8, 2008.
The UA will join a few other tobacco-free U.S. campuses, such as Ohio University and the University of Iowa, in a quest to provide a healthier environment for its students, and to educate them about the dangers of using tobacco products. The policy follows similar measures already in place at the UA Fort Smith and the UA for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
While we applaud the administration's concern for the health of UA students, we have a few questions about the logistics of the new policy.
The punishments for violating the new tobacco policy have not been finalized yet, said Mary Alice Serafini, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and director of the Pat Walker Health Center. Serafini, who developed the new policy, said according to the current policy draft, students would get warnings if they were caught using tobacco products on campus. Then, if the students continued to violate the policy they could be sent to the Office of Student Ethics and Community Standards.
The threat of disciplinary action by the OCSSE, commonly referred to as the Judicial Board, might achieve the desired effect of deterring students from smoking on campus. However, faculty, other staff and campus visitors would not be affected by such enforcement.
If this policy has truly been put in place to benefit the health of everyone associated with the UA, as Serafini has said, an all-encompassing enforcement program needs to be agreed upon. Students will only feel like they are being picked on if they are the only ones to face disciplinary action for their violations.
Another option is to fine those who violate the policy. However, Serafini said she hopes to lean toward cooperative and educational discipline instead of issuing fines, which could distract from the university's goal of educating its students.
The UA will join a few other tobacco-free U.S. campuses, such as Ohio University and the University of Iowa, in a quest to provide a healthier environment for its students, and to educate them about the dangers of using tobacco products. The policy follows similar measures already in place at the UA Fort Smith and the UA for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
While we applaud the administration's concern for the health of UA students, we have a few questions about the logistics of the new policy.
The punishments for violating the new tobacco policy have not been finalized yet, said Mary Alice Serafini, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and director of the Pat Walker Health Center. Serafini, who developed the new policy, said according to the current policy draft, students would get warnings if they were caught using tobacco products on campus. Then, if the students continued to violate the policy they could be sent to the Office of Student Ethics and Community Standards.
The threat of disciplinary action by the OCSSE, commonly referred to as the Judicial Board, might achieve the desired effect of deterring students from smoking on campus. However, faculty, other staff and campus visitors would not be affected by such enforcement.
If this policy has truly been put in place to benefit the health of everyone associated with the UA, as Serafini has said, an all-encompassing enforcement program needs to be agreed upon. Students will only feel like they are being picked on if they are the only ones to face disciplinary action for their violations.
Another option is to fine those who violate the policy. However, Serafini said she hopes to lean toward cooperative and educational discipline instead of issuing fines, which could distract from the university's goal of educating its students.
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