Spring Break
UA residents vote against tobacco ban
Lindsey Pruitt
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: News
As of Friday afternoon, 1428 of the 4,186 on-campus students had voted. Nearly one-third of those students wanted the policy amended to allow designated smoking areas and the use of smokeless tobacco. While more than a quarter of the students opposed the policy in its entirety, about 42 percent supported the policy in its entirety.
"When analyzing this data, I think it is important to recognize that while the 42 percent figure is the highest percentage, if you combine the totals of student who seek to amend the policy and those who are entirely opposed to the policy, a 58 percent majority is reached. Therefore, over 58 percent are opposed to this policy on some level," Biggs said.
"It is obvious, so far, that a majority of students are either completely opposed to the policy or would like to see the policy amended to allow for the use of smoke less tobacco and designated smoking areas," Biggs said.
"If nothing else, the voting will send a message to the UA that students want to be heard," he said. "Hopefully, in the future, whenever a major decision is made that has such a controversial impact on students, it will be available for public and student scrutiny before any decision is final. To my knowledge, this referendum will compile the opinions of more students than any other poll regarding this policy has previously done. I hope UA officials realize this and take their opinions into consideration."
"When analyzing this data, I think it is important to recognize that while the 42 percent figure is the highest percentage, if you combine the totals of student who seek to amend the policy and those who are entirely opposed to the policy, a 58 percent majority is reached. Therefore, over 58 percent are opposed to this policy on some level," Biggs said.
"It is obvious, so far, that a majority of students are either completely opposed to the policy or would like to see the policy amended to allow for the use of smoke less tobacco and designated smoking areas," Biggs said.
"If nothing else, the voting will send a message to the UA that students want to be heard," he said. "Hopefully, in the future, whenever a major decision is made that has such a controversial impact on students, it will be available for public and student scrutiny before any decision is final. To my knowledge, this referendum will compile the opinions of more students than any other poll regarding this policy has previously done. I hope UA officials realize this and take their opinions into consideration."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
Gerald Golden
posted 12/03/07 @ 8:38 AM CST
It obvious that little thought went into this ban. It needs completely rethought, rewritten and put to a campus vote of Students, Faculty and Staff.
Sara Bonds
posted 12/03/07 @ 11:16 AM CST
I have asthma. I didn't ask for it or do anything to get it, it just happened. I have lived with it for years and have methods to prevent asthma attacks. (Continued…)
spartacus007
Adam
posted 12/03/07 @ 2:38 PM CST
Obviously the rule about keeping smokers 20 feet away from entrances should be enforced. That should prevent Sara's asthma and preserve smokers' rights. (Continued…)
Bob Tiberius
Jeremy
posted 12/05/07 @ 7:33 AM CST
The reason that some kind of smoking ban on campus is right is the same reason that a smoking ban in the city of Fayetteville is wrong, there is a difference between public and private property. (Continued…)
MJ
posted 12/06/07 @ 11:02 AM CST
It should be noted that research shows that tobacco smoke only affects your health if you are less than 18 inches away from the smoker. You really shouldn't be that close to anyone. (Continued…)
Trevor
posted 12/07/07 @ 2:02 PM CST
[QUOTE id="bc286aec-efb0-45be-8db1-c17ebfc36585"]It should be noted that research shows that tobacco smoke only affects your health if you are less than 18 inches away from the smoker. (Continued…)
Adam
posted 12/07/07 @ 2:40 PM CST
Breathing in even heavily concentrated tobacco fumes for a few seconds every day is not going to give you cancer.
Trevor
posted 12/07/07 @ 8:14 PM CST
You say that relatively brief exposures to cigarette smoke will not "give you cancer." That's somewhat correct, but the point is moot because it's not right to decide whether to subject other people to something against their will based solely upon whether it's likely to kill them. (Continued…)
Adam
posted 12/07/07 @ 11:51 PM CST
Due to the passage of air, people are subject to all sorts of unwanted odors, fumes and sounds. Welcome to life.
I'm sure you've heard, "Everything is poison, there is poison in everything. (Continued…)
Tiffany W
posted 12/09/07 @ 2:36 PM CST
It's nice that the few thousand on campus students had a say in the smoking ban, but what about the rest of us? I am an off campus student, shouldn't my opionion count as much? Am I not paying tuition as well? I, like Sara, have asthma. (Continued…)
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