Argonaut | 10.28.2014

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uiargonaut.com

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Tobacco troubles administration

Task force moving forward with no formal approval Amber Emery and Ryan Tarinelli Argonaut

A University of Idaho task force is already working to implement a tobacco-free policy by 2015 even though UI General Counsel Kent Nelson said the task force is not working under any kind of official approval. Vandal Health Education Coordinator Emily Tuschhoff said the Tobacco Task Force is working under the authority of intention language supported by Faculty Senate and endorsed by an 85-70 vote at the all-faculty meeting in April. But, according to Nelson, the intention clause has not yet been adopted into the Administrative Procedures Manual (APM). Nelson said the procedure to change the smoking policy would require additional time and adequate vetting. “It has not yet been formally approved,” he said. “They should be exploring how implementation will take place because that is a time consuming process and also one that needs significant vetting, I would suspect.” Tuschhoff said the task force is beginning the implementation and planning phase early to meet the Aug. 24 date outlined in the proposed policy. Although there is no policy or statement of intent in place, Marty Ytreberg, UI Faculty Senate chair, said it’s fair for the task force to move forward with the implementation phase as they have received significant support from UI administrators. Ytreberg said the faculty narrowly agreed it should be the intention of the university to move toward a tobacco free campus.

Philip Vukelich | Argonaut

Economics Club president Joseph Cook, right, Economics Club adviser Steven Peterson, center, and senior Erin Phipps post informational fliers in opposition of the potential tobacco ban policy on the University of Idaho campus Thursday, in the Albertson Building.

SPEAK

Legitimacy of student support draws concern

A

OUT

How do you feel about the process, and do you think there’s been enough communication from the university about the proposed changes?

Amber Emery and Ryan Tarinelli Argonaut

difference of 11 votes is enough community support to move forward with the implementation of a tobacco ban on the University of Idaho campus, according to the UI Tobacco Task Force. A November 2012 survey polled 985 UI community members about their support for a tobacco-free campus policy. The results were split — 51 percent of community members supported the ban, while 49 percent voted against the change in policy. Despite splintered support from faculty, staff and students, the Tobacco Task Force has recently started planning and implementing the proposed tobacco-free campus policy. The implementation phase includes community outreach, cessation education and the eventual removal of cigarette canisters on the UI campus. Student support for the ban, future enforcement of the policy and communication efforts by the task force are the main concerns raised by stakeholders throughout the process. “It’s been a weird process in that there was never one avenue for students to truly represent this voice,” said Nate Fisher, ASUI president. “It seems like it has kind of been asked in a couple different forms, but something that was never really definitive.” But according to task force member Helen Brown, the task force has not yet heard significant-enough opposition to require further input from the UI community. Brown is a faculty member in the Department of Movement Sciences and teaches a class where the idea for a change to the tobacco policy partially originated.

SEE approval, PAGE 4

SEE concern, PAGE 5

Student clubs show opposition to tobacco ban Amber Emery and Ryan Tarinelli Argonaut

Hundreds of comments from students showing support and opposition for the proposed tobaccofree policy were written on the Free Speech Wall. Located between the Idaho Commons and TLC last month, the wall was an exercise in “starting the conversation,” according to the University of Idaho Economics Club and Veterans Club. Several sheets of butcher paper were hung on the wall. Each sheet asked a question to the average passersby. One sheet asked, “What are the

pros and cons of having a complete tobacco ban?” Another, “What other alternatives are there to a complete tobacco ban?” The questions were posted the second week of September and by the end of the week, there was no longer any white space on the pieces of paper for students to leave more comments. “We thought is was successful,” said Mason Donaldson, Economics Club vice president. “We wanted to see if the general student body had anything to say about this issue and they obviously do.” Another question posted on the wall asked, “Would you attend an open forum debate between oppos-

ing views?” “We got over, I think, 30 tallies,” said Joseph Cook, Economics Club president. “It made us realize that there really needs to be more dialogue about this.” The Economics and Veterans Clubs will host a panel discussion about the proposed tobacco-free policy from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 19, in the Menard Law Building courtroom. Steven Peterson, adviser of the Economics Club, said representatives of the Tobacco Task Force will be in attendence so panel attendees can hear both sides of the debate.

Rob Thorton

“They’ve been trying to ban tobacco on campus for years, and every time they vote on it it gets turned down. Then they turn around and tell us that what people want is a campus free of tobacco use, and start all over again. The anti-tobacco folks may not like it, but what the students and faculty want is a campus where they aren’t being told what to do. How many times does the majority need to say that?”

“I feel that this was pushed through administration with little student input. The proposed tobacco ban doesn’t solve the issues of smoking, only disenfranchises those who chose to. I wish more consideration would be given to alternative resolutions. I mean, if something is banned, people stop doing it, right?”

Clayton McFarland

“NO, first I have hear of it.”

Lloyd Eakin

“Enforcing current rules about building buffer zones would solve the problem. A ban is extreme.”

SEE opposition, PAGE 5

Laureas Tate

IN THIS ISSUE

Idaho volleyball team falls to Idaho State in battle for first place in Big Sky. sports, 6 News, 1

Sports, 6

Opinion, 9

Tobacco Task Force should stop dictating policy. Read Our View.

Follow us on Twitter at @uiargonaut

Opinion, 9 University of Idaho

@uiargonaut Volume 116, Issue no. 21

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Argonaut | 10.28.2014 by The Argonaut - Issuu