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January 23, 2014 • Issue no. 34 Volume 26
Boise, Idaho
First issue free
E-Cigs Burn Out
Mallory Barker @Mal_a_gal Once upon a time, Michael Nash was allowed to use his electronic cigarette in his dorm at his leisure. He was shocked to find out this would no longer be acceptable behavior. In December of 2013, ecigarettes were added to the campus-wide ban of tobacco. Electronic cigarettes are no longer allowed inside of Boise State owned or leased buildings. Conventional cigarettes are banned everywhere on campus; electronic cigarettes are allowed outdoors. This policy includes University Housing. Students will be permitted to own electronic cigarettes but will not be allowed to use
them inside buildings. Malinda Jensen, assistant director of resident life, explained University Housing was only just informed of the policy and will be enforcing the policy but will develop a campaign to inform students first. “I’m happy we have a policy, I’ve had a number of students ask me for one. It’s been a cause of some roommate conflicts,” Jensen said. Nash, a freshman mechanical engineering major who lives on campus, is not happy with the new policy. “I think it should be allowed. There’s no harm whatsoever. I understand maybe not doing it in public places where people might get offended by the smell,” Nash said. “But in
private places like your dorm, it should be allowed. There’s really no harm to them.” Greg Hahn, associate vice president for Communications and Marketing, said students and faculty will have to adjust to this change. “I think people will go outside. I think you just sort of adapt,” Hahn said. “Hopefully we can get a campus-wide discussion on what people want to do with this.” Hahn also explained this change in policy was necessary because e-cigarettes can be disruptive. “In classrooms and labs it can be distracting at the very least,” Hahn said. According to Hahn, the policy change was headed
up by Chris Mathias, former policy manager, before he left Boise State to work for the State Board of Education. “Chris spent a lot of time exploring what we really know about this and decided it is a little too early to really know anything. It is a value judgment on the part of the university,” Hahn said. The policy states its purpose is “to establish the policy and procedures regulating smoking, tobacco and nicotine use on Boise State University owned and leased properties.” The policy goes on to say, “This policy promotes a healthy and safe environment conducive to learning for all students, faculty,
staff and visitors.” Health Services is listed as a “Responsible Party” on the policy’s page but was unaware of the incorporation of e-cigarettes to the policy. “I didn’t know about it, but I’m glad there is one,” said Julia Beard, assistant director for Clinical Operations and Quality Assurance. In reference to enforcement, the policy states: “Campus Security and Police Services have primary responsibility to coordinate efforts for policy enforcement. However, faculty staff, and students have a collective responsibility to promote the safety and health of the campus community and therefore share in the responsibility of
enforcement.” Ryan Gregg, president of Associated Students of Boise State, believes the policy falls in line with Boise State’s initiative to promote healthy lifestyles. “I think that it personally has to do with it being a tobacco-free campus, not just smoke-free, and trying to promote a healthier lifestyle,” Gregg said. Gregg believes the campus community will not be very upset about the policy. “I think it will be the same response as when we instituted the no smoking ban. I think the people that do use them might be upset but the major population of the university won’t be impacted by this,” Gregg said.
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Connect with international students @Maddaysunn
Imagine traveling to a new place to live, where the culture is foreign and different from home, everyone is speaking a different language and making new friends is more difficult than ever before. This is the reality for many international students coming to Boise State from across the world. No matter where they have transferred from
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and how hard they may have studied to learn English, the transition can be tough. Having friends who know the lay of the land and friends who are going through the same thing is important in getting settled into a new environment. Going through extreme changes like culture and language can be stressful and mentally taxing. The Student Diversity Center on campus aims to ease
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Madison Killian
There is no limit to who is welcome, as long as they feel like they want to make new friends.
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—Mila Lam
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the stresses of these transitions. Coffee and Conversation is kicking off this week and will happen every Wednesday for the rest of the semester. Not only is it a great environment to make new friends, but coffee will also be provided along with tea and other snacks. “Coffee and Conversation is open to faculty, students, friends from outside of campus and anyone who is interested in making friends with international students,” said Mila Lam, a senior chemistry major. “They can come to this event, we have coffee and cakes and it’s very informal.” Some students may come for the free food, but
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leave with a new group of friends. “If the international students don’t want to come, they don’t have to come. This is like, if they are willing to make friends and open themselves up to relationships, they come here,” Lam said. “Since it is very informal, students feel more comfortable talking and making new friends.” Coffee and Conversation has proven to be a success in making international students feel more welcomed into Boise State. “We have this every semester. It’s been going on since before I came here in 2012. I believe it has been going on for awhile,” Lam said. The Diversity Center
is a place where students can go get help with anything that they don’t understand. College is already stressful and confusing enough without the cultural and language barriers these students face. “In the Student Diversity Center we have ISS which is International Student Services and Multicultural Services, and we work together,” Lam said. “We work with international students to help them overcome challenges on campus so that they can adapt to the environment.” Coffee and Conversation will be held every Wednesday for the rest of the semester from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the
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Sports
Student Diversity Center located on the second floor of the Student Union Building. For more information, visit mss.boisestate.edu. Lam said, “There is no limit to who is welcome, as long as they feel like they want to make new friends.”
ONLINE For more information on events happening on campus, visit us at www.arbiteronline. com.
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Devin Ferrell/THE ARBITER
An updated policy bans e-cigs on campus