Students may vote on a smoke free campus

Students may vote on a smoke free campus

By David Ryan Palmer

Associate Editor

Senators voted Wednesday to table a resolution that would ask students in the upcoming election if they want to abolish smoking campus wide.

Pi Kappa Delta senator Cory Greineisen introduced the resolution. [Editor’s Note: Greineisen works for the Contraband.] 

“Basically what we’re trying to do is to come into compliance with the UL System’s mandate,” Greineisen said.

“We’re going to try to put into place, with your approval, is a measure in the upcoming election that will determine if students want a smoke free campus, or designated areas that would be smoke free, or if there should be no change.”

SGA would then take a recommendation to President Williams based on the results of that vote, Greineisen said.

According to SGA President Lewis, one of the reasons that this is coming up is because of a bit of confusion at the University of Louisiana board level.

“To be clear from the UL system, as a board member, is that there is still confusion.  The compliance officer who was there before has left, and the new person that is reviewing the policy is not sure that we have the best interpretation,” Lewis said.

“The UL system has not changed the policy.  This is coming from the state, a statute that came down from the legislature last year.”

Greineisen said that this is a chance for the student body to be heard before a mandate is handed down from the state itself.

“By allowing the student body to vote, we give the student body a voice, before this is forced upon it,” he said.

This is not the first poll on smoking that has come before the student body.  Two years ago, Lewis told the Contraband, a similar vote was counted, with a majority of students favoring some kind of increased restriction regarding smoking on campus.

The resolution will come up for a vote again at the February 19 meeting.