Respecting others’ rights essential to campus smoking policy

By Tomas Engle

Published: Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Updated: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 23:11

Monday night in the Lincoln Hall theater, one of a series of focus group meetings for President James P. Clements’ Task Force for Tobacco Policy took place. For two hours, 14 students representing extended and off-campus housing voiced their opinions on possible changes to the current WVU smoking policy, including a smoke/tobacco ban across both campuses.

The dialogue was civil and fruitful despite the range of opinions, and a common goal was reached in respecting the rights of smokers and non-smokers alike with no one group being favored at the expense of the other.

This series of focus groups will put real power in the hands of the students to solve their own problems by brainstorming with others and coming up with realistic and fair solutions to complex issues facing our campus.

The talk was initiated by moderator and sociology Professor Ronald Althouse with the opening statement, “The point is to lay it (smoking policy) out and openly discuss … an issue that won’t go away.” Dr. Althouse then encouraged the students to state brief initial concerns on the current smoking policy so that the discussion could be properly steered in those directions.

Senior communication studies major Jhesse Jones, started off the discussion by making the point that any total smoking ban across campus would be “unenforceable and unfair.” Sophomore physics major Scott Ferris maintained that the current debate was a “human rights issue,” and that since the University represents all students, it should not benefit some students at the expense of others.

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Vote for the PIRATE Party for WVU SGA!

Taken from their website…

“The PIRATE Party is committed to reform and opportunity. Reform in the sense that the structure of SGA needs to be changed in order for it to be effective in representing and advocating student issues. Opportunity in the sense that SGA must extend opportunity for every student to be involved and to excel. Together, we can revolutionize how student government operates. This pivotal election will determine how SGA will function for years to come. It is time to open the doors of opportunity and let new ideas in!”

Read more @ http://www.pirates2010.com/

SURVEY: Do You Support a Campus-wide Smoking Ban at WVU?

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A Good Samaritan Policy at WVU

As we all know, WVU has always maintained an infamous reputation as a “party school,” annually topping the Princeton Review’s list of the top ten party schools in the nation. But this ‘enthusiasm’ can often put students in a dangerous position. Students in need of medical attention due to alcohol or other drug use can face harsh disciplinary actions from the University if their incident is reported. As a result fearful students often forgo necessary medical treatment for themselves or friends, sometimes with deadly consequences.

The introduction of a Good Samaritan Policy (GSP) at WVU would change university policy so that students in need of medical assistance because of alcohol or other drug use, and those attempting to assist, would receive amnesty against disciplinary University sanctions. These sanctions would be replaced with educational or rehabilitation services. The adoption of a GSP at WVU would further encourage a partnership between the university and its students as well as promote personal responsibility and educational attitudes about alcohol and drug use.

In Our First Semester on Campus…

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is a new student organization at West Virginia University. In our first semester as a student organization, we intend to have an impact on several policies involving the students and their rights.

Our second focus this semester will be working to get students to take a more active roll in deciding the policies that will affect them. For example, there is a proposed campus-wide smoking ban that would affect all students, those living on and off campus alike. We feel that this proposal has been pushed through quickly to avoid drawing attention to the massive repercussions it would entail. This proposal is trying to infringe upon the rights of the student body, and if it becomes an adopted policy, it is only a slippery slope to the loss of more individual rights.