In order to ensure a healthy learning and working for the students of Armstrong, faculty and staff, university president Linda Bleicken has announced plans for a tobacco-free campus beginning fall 2012. The decision has led many in the community of Armstrong on the issue of developing a new policy.

“This initiative was one that was a community initiative», Bleicken said in the appeal to the Savannah City Council on February 10. “This includes not only our first recommendation is to our student government association in the autumn of 2010, but also had the support of the faculty senate, and the Our advisory board members, as well as city and community leaders who were interested in clean air and making sure that the air that we breathe clean. ”

SGA was originally credited to the launch of a tobacco-free initiative, but the ideas proposed by organizations that are not reflected in the recently adopted policy.

“We, the Student Government Association of Armstrong Atlantic State University, supported the adoption of a tobacco plant banning smoking in all other areas around campus,” said the resolution in the December 6, 2010, SGA minutes of the meeting.

For all published minutes, no further action was taken as the body of SGA. President Kwame Phillips, without sending the body of the Senate have shown their support for the new policy after the announcement of Bleicken.

“The position of SGA is to support tobacco-free campus initiative,” said Phillips. “If a student does not have any comments regarding this new policy, they should write to me, the president of student government, and I will call them on the committee working group. I will meet with the executive board of SGA, and the Senate, and we can discuss if they really want to see change -. if they do not want this policy, through the -. They have a email or a link on our website”

The idea of making smoking Armstrong was originally introduced in the Senate of the faculty in October 2010.

As a result, instead of the Senate adopted a motion to form a special committee to study the adoption of smoking on the campus of the University grounds. In February 2011 the Faculty Senate President Robert LaFavi discussed the formation of a special commission and called for volunteers to work in it.

The appointed committee, headed by Sarah Plaspohl, consisted of students, faculty and staff involved in the university president to consider adopting a tobacco-free campus. In an effort to gather community thoughts Armstrong, the committee held a campus-wide online survey, which ran from September 19 to September 30.

“There was no formal alliance between the [SGA and the Faculty Senate], while the doctor pulled out a Plaspohl and organized it in such a way as to include everyone’s voice”, Lafavi said. “And so I think it was in contact with SGA and other student government leaders to be absolutely sure that the voice of the student government has been heard, or at least consider in their work.”

Former President Ty SGA Slater represented in the SGA initiative task force.

“You were on the committee, when we started. I got the impression from him that the Senate was looking [Campos] to be free of tobacco”, Plaspohl said.

The Task Force used the data collected and proposed options for office of President without a formal recommendation from the faculty senate.

“My understanding was they were going to bring a recommendation to the man who could make a decision. Not everyone understands that? It was the understanding of Sarah Plaspohl, as well,” said LaFavi. “If it had to go back to the Senate, I would be the first person to say,” Time Out “, but the problem is in November, Sarah Plaspohl came to the Senate, and she said:” Here are three recommendations. We gave him President to decide. No one in the Senate said, “Wait a minute. This is supposed to be returned to us in the first place.” I can not say, “Hold it. It should not take place.” … That’s why I can not make that argument. ”

The first option presented Bleicken create smoke-free environment with designated areas and supports the majority – 36 percent – of respondents.

The second option to appoint a tobacco-free environment and supports the input of 29 percent of the vote on campus.

Option three would give no change in existing policy, which supports 25 percent of respondents.
“The study was with the opinion of each”, Plaspohl said. “I mean it was not” we will vote, and based on this vote, we’re going to approve it or reject it. He had to get everyone’s opinion. I think it is important to distinguish. ”

Some students have expressed complaints related to the ban e-cigarettes as part of a tobacco-free initiative.

“We’ll look into that,” Plaspohl said. “The original posting included electronic cigarettes, but the policy does not actually been written, or completed, so that will certainly be considered.”

The Task Force also received 22 letters of support for their initiatives from various campuses and outside the organization – of which seven have been approved Armstrong is going to completely free of tobacco and other support efforts of the Committee to review the current policies that promote a healthier environment.

In particular, SGA, the Council of Organizations of the president and the student Coordinating Council sent letters to all who have supported the creation of designated areas. The Committee also received more than 65 letters – most of the opposition – the new policy as of February 8. No letters of support to the Faculty Senate has been released.

“Faculty has the opportunity to contribute, and this is my main concern: the voices have been heard in that it does not mean that some people will not feel disenfranchised,” said Lafavi. “Question” was created by a process where their voices can be heard? I feel that Dr. Plaspohl did a good job with it, and whether or not this particular solution will be something that will be well received on campus that remains to be seen. ”

“I want it to be fully understood – it came first from the students, faculty and staff themselves,” she said.

After consideration of all data and proposals from various sources and off-campus, the president expressed his support tobacco-free policy of the government.

“The recommendations after considering all the input – and it was pretty extensive – that made me come,” she said.

Armstrong is not the only university in Georgia, who introduced the smoking ban.

“We are one of the 16 campuses are now in Georgia – which, given our history as a tobacco state – it is very nice,” Bleicken said.

Other countries have also adopted similar resolutions. California’s state legislature recently passed legislation requires that all public universities to be free of tobacco in 2014.

“I think the trend that we’re going to see as we go forward in time, that more and more schools – not just schools in Georgia, but in the U.S. – are going to go without tobacco”, Plaspohl said.

Tags: tobacco

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