University of Idaho President Chuck Staben said he favors the UI Tobacco Task Force recommendation to implement a tobacco-free campus policy to go into effect fall 2015.
Senior Chris Angell puffs on his cigarette outside the library Tuesday afternoon. University of Idaho President Chuck Staben says he favors a campus wide tobacco ban to be implemented by fall 2015. The current policy prohibits smoking within 25 feet of building entrances.
The anticipated change in the tobacco policy would prohibit the use of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, chew, pipes, hookahs, cigars, snuff, snus, water pipes and any other tobacco product on UI property.
“I am in favor of a tobacco ban by that date, and also that it be done in a manner that is considerate of the complexity of our campuses and of all faculty, staff, students, including those who do smoke,” Staben said in a statement last week.
Vandal Health Education Coordinator Emily Tuschhoff said the task force is pleased to have Staben’s endorsement and will continue working with the campus community to find an effective way to implement the policy.
“The Tobacco Task Force still plans to move forward, and we’re happy to have the university’s support, including President Staben,” she said. “It’s important to keep in mind that this is happening because of the university’s support, so it was a student-led movement that garnered faculty and staff support, and more student support as we moved forward.”
Staben’s public stance on the issue comes after the task force officially recommended the policy change last April.
The current smoking policy states smoking is permitted on campus, but prohibited within 25 feet of UI buildings and doorways. Last year, the task force met weekly to discuss the shortfalls of the current policy, and brainstorm possible changes.
After months of deliberation, the task force recommended a tobacco-free policy for the campus that aims to improve the overall health of the campus community, including smokers.
The policy proposal was met with some opposition at last April’s University Faculty Meeting, where faculty voted to neither endorse nor reject the task force’s proposal. Staben said the issues that were raised at that meeting would be looked at closely in the coming months as the logistics of the anticipated policy unfold.
“I do expect the committee to work to develop an implementable policy and practice,” Staben said. “The discussion at the Senate last spring clearly indicated that there are issues or concerns that remain to be resolved.”
Student Bar Association President Nii-Amaa Ollennu said, as a tobacco user, he understands why the university wants to move forward with a tobacco ban, even if it negatively impacts smokers.
“I personally use tobacco, so that would hurt me as an individual,” he said “However, I am at that point in my tobacco use where I kind of realize it’s something I need to quit, so I can see it being somewhat beneficial.”
The reservation Ollennu has with the proposed policy is that it goes too far in prohibiting students from using tobacco alternatives, such as e-cigarettes. He said e-cigarettes are often used as a cessation resource, and he doesn’t see the benefit in banning them from campus.
“I do kind of have an issue with the e-cigarette thing though,” Ollennu said. “It seems to me that those are designed for people who want to quit. Some people may not intend to quit with those, but I know that when I purchased one that was my reason for doing so.”
Tuschhoff said the task force is now following a 12-month implementation plan that includes expanding the tobacco task force to include more campus and community partners. She said the task force is also going to create smaller groups to further examine logistics of the policy, and to work with students from the Department of Movement Sciences on how to communicate with the campus community about cessation resources.
Amber Emery can be reached at [email protected]