During fall semester a survey was distributed to students regarding the possible implementation of a new smoking policy or changes to the current policy.
Mika Mahyenga, junior in economics and PSGA president, explained the results of the survey and the steps that now may follow.
“Right now the smoking policy is in between processes in between tables,” he said. “We began with the survey and the survey gave us a green light but because of the sensitivity of the issue we are going to put it through other tables.”
At the moment no action has been taken, however, more people are studying the changes.
“There’s a team of staff and faculty members,” said Mahyenga. “They are majoring in facility safety and personal management and seeing if we can put it through.”
Because of the controversial nature of the issue, more procedures are going to take place and more teams of people are going to get involved since it will affect students, faculty, staff and visitors, according to Mahyenga.
“Because we are taking a look at this issue as carefully as possible, we are thinking about holding a town hall meeting to see what students say about it,” said Mahyenga. “But right now I can’t put a time frame.”
The main focus at this point is the issues regarding the current smoking policy especially issues regarding the red benches in front of the buildings.
“I could say that we are focusing on the current smoking policy that we have we are having a lot of issues with the benches around,” said Mahyenga. “Especially the one at Copley and close to Norrington so there’s a lot going on but we are trying to enforce our current smoking policies and in the meantime these other policies are being studied, so probably by next semester we will have a time frame.”
Currenlty, the smoking policy on campus is 50 feet from a building, according to Christopher Loos, director of campus safety.
Students and the Park community have different views regarding the smoking policy.
Kyle Riou, freshmen and undecided major, explained his reasons on why the policy shouldn’t be passed.
“I don’t think they should ban smoking because people get stressed,” he said. “And people smoke to relive stress. I do think that people need to pick up their cigarettes butts and if they do pass the policy I would smoke anyway.”
