ASUP's VP explains what the smoking resolution means for UP
By Alyssa Schmidt-Carr
The past two months, students have been arguing about the possibility of UP becoming a tobacco-free.
The recommendation came from the Presidential Advisory Committee on Health and Safety to The Rev. E William Beauchamp, C.S.C. Beauchamp approached ASUP and asked the senators to write a resolution stating the students' opinion on the matter.
The first thing I would like to explain is that when ASUP writes a resolution, it is a recommendation to the president; he does read and respond to it.
A couple of senators wrote a resolution stating that ASUP would support a tobacco-free campus as long as safety, enforcement, and resources for smokers would be taken into account.
We all understand that smoking is an addiction; people won't just stop smoking if the rule is changed.
One criticism we have received is the notion that we have no resources to help smokers.
The Health Center does have resources for smokers and would increase the resources if people used them.
If this resolution passes, it does not mean we will become a tobacco-free campus.
It means that Father Beauchamp will take our opinion into consideration.
ASUP will not write the policy.
As the student government, the administration may ask us for more feedback about what the students want. However, they are the ones writing the policy. This policy would not go into effect this year either. It would be phased in with plenty of warning.
There are currently over 256 tobacco-free schools and many more in transition.
Last week in U.S. News and World Report, University of Michigan did a study of four tobacco-free schools, and found that there was a 97 percent compliance rate.
Two weeks ago, The Oregonian had an article about PCC's new tobacco ban, which stated that even though they can ticket people for smoking, they have not had many problems so far. I would like to assume that the students of UP would be equally if not more respectful of a school rule than PCC or any other school in the US.
The University of Michigan, which plans on going smoke free in 2011, said that instead of handing out fines, they would give those caught smoking on campus an invitation to a smoking-cessation workshop.
Yes, you may think this is corny but it may be something that could be implemented on our campus.
Either way the administration will decide that when they get to that point.
Right now your senators want to know what you think.
Look up your senators online and talk to them.
Please take our survey that is on your portal.
We've heard from all of the people that are strongly against it.
We would like to hear from all of those who don't care either way, are for it, or don't think your voice is heard.
We will listen.
Alyssa Schmidt-Carr is ASUP vice president
