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OPINION, PAGE 4
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TTUESDAY, UESDAY, OOCTOBER CTOBER 220, 0, 22015 015 > W WESTERN ESTERN KKENTUCKY ENTUCKY UUNIVERSITY NIVERSITY > VVOLUME OLUME 990, 0, IISSUE SSUE 1166
Hanban to cover additional costs for Institute
Speech Code Ratings Since August 13, 2013 According to the Foundation for individual rights in education
BY SAMANTHA WRIGHT HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU Hanban, the division of the Chinese Education Ministry that oversees the Confucius Institutes, has agreed to cover all maintenance and operating costs for WKU’s Model Confucius Institute. President Gary Ransdell said officials from Confucius Institute headquarters and the WKU Confucius Institute staff have spoken with the Hanban staff, and Hanban has agreed to cover the cost of maintenance and operation. “The Chinese officials with the Confucius Institute headquarters and our CI [Confucius Institute] staff have communicated with Hanban staff in this regard, and they indicated that sure, they’d be happy to do that,” he said. “It’ll just be part of the budget for the Confucius Institute and be lined out in the budget we receive from Hanban.” Ransdell said this decision by Hanban should help soothe things. “There seemed to be some angst over WKU having to cover those costs, so that [covered cost] removes that as a stress point related to that building,” he said. In a letter addressed to Kate Hudepohl, chairwoman of the University Senate and associate professor of folk studies and anthropology, Ransdell provided further insight into the information he gathered from his meeting with the Confucius Institute staff. In the letter, he said Hanban has no interest in either operations or usage of the building, provided the building continues to house the Confucius Institute. “They believe the building should be open to anyone or any group on campus who wishes to reserve it for an event or whatever uses which might be suitable for the classrooms,” Ransdell said in the letter.
SEE CONFUCIUS PAGE A2
red
A “red light” institution has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech.
Yellow
Green
A "Green Light" institution is one whose policies do not seriously imperil speech
A “yellow light” institution is one whose policies restrict a more limited amount of protected expression or, by virtue of their vague wording, could too easily be used to restrict protected expression.
What's the Word? Proceed with caution when speaking on WKU’s campus
BY ANDREW CRITCHELOW & NICOLE ARES HERALD.FEATURES@WKU.EDU A national foundation dedicated to free speech has categorized WKU as an institution whose speech policies are vaguely restrictive. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) categorizes universities in a Speech Code Rating System. The system informs viewers of FIRE’s opinion of the degree to which free speech is restricted at a particular institution. WKU is currently categorized as a cautionary or “yellow light” institution for its assembly policy that restricts spontaneous demonstrations and as-
semblies. “If you’re going to have a collection of people, you need to have a place to put them,” Vice President of Student Affairs Howard Bailey said. “You don’t want them out in the street.” WKU currently allows “spontaneous speech, protests and distribution of literature in lawns, quads, grassy, park areas and similar spaces that are suitable for the purpose of public forums for WKU students,” according to the student handbook. “You are welcome to have a protest in all areas of the campus,” Bailey explained, “so long as you’re not interrupting the educational process, and you’re not blocking walk or roadways.” However, there are a number of
places that require authorization prior to demonstrating, meeting or assembling: classrooms, libraries, work rooms, hallways, lobbies, administrative and faculty offices, lounges, entrances and exits of all university buildings, all streets and driveways utilized for vehicular traffic, residential buildings and all sidewalks utilized for pedestrian traffic. Additionally, the following areas may only be utilized on a reservation basis: indoor facilities, intramural fields and other recreational areas, stadium and outdoor theatres and parking lots. Jet Sheets is a member of Vegan Outreach, an organization that hands out
SEE FIRE PAGE A2
Smoking phaseout plan to begin next semester BY MARCEL MAYO HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU
The three-year phaseout of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes begins next semester. Last November, the Student Government Association senate voted on Resolution 1114-F, Resolution to Support a Smoke Free Campus. However, the senate did not pass this resolution. Another resolution was introduced in January. On Feb. 3, SGA passed Resolution 1-15-S, Resolution to Support a Limited Smoking Campus, with a 13-11 vote. The resolution passed after much debate, but as a result of SGA’s resolution, a smoking committee created an action plan to phase out smoking. The phaseout will occur over the course of three years and will also apply to e-cigarettes. During last Tuesday’s meeting, SGA President Jay Todd Richey said he had spoken with the SGA smoking committee representative Josh Knight about the phaseout plan. Knight said the phaseout
plan will occur over the course of three years. “It will probably start next semester,” he said. In an email sent to all faculty and staff, President Gary Ransdell outlined background information and a plan of action that had been put together by an ad hoc committee he appointed made up of faculty, staff and students to study WKU’s smoking policies. In the email, he said WKU is the only public university in the state not to have implemented a “tobacco- and vapor-free campus policy” and that state health officials have been pressing the university to implement a policy that conforms to other schools in the state. “Our intent is to keep the campus healthy, safe, beautiful and sustainable,” Ransdell said in the email. During phase one, the campus will be limited to 12 designated smoking areas. Ransdell included a map of these areas in his email. They include Zacharias Hall, Meredith Hall, Pearce-Ford Tower,
Senior Kristina Thames, left, and junior Jamie Davis, right, take a smoke break from attending class at the Academic Complex’s underpass, a frequent spot for smokers. Starting in the spring, WKU will begin a three-year plan to phaseout smoking on campus. WESTON KENNEY/HERALD Tate Page Hall, Ransdell Hall, Downing Student Union’s service drive, Smith Stadium, Grise Hall’s lawn, the area by Facilities Management, the
Valley, the Wetherby Administration Building, the Augenstein Alumni Center and the area between Snell Hall and the Engineering and Bio-
Get a free headshot. Be beautiful. Be you. Be in the Talisman. Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 26 & 27 - DSU Lobby from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wed., Oct. 28 - Adams-Whitaker Student Publications Building from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 - Cherry Hall Lobby from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 - Adams-Whitaker Student Publications Building from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
logical Sciences Building. During phase two, the campus will be limited to six designated smoking areas.
SEE SMOKING POLICY PAGE A2