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College works toward tobacco-free campus
Some students, faculty upset about timetable
The Advocate
A tobacco-free initiative/implementation committee has been created by June Jacobs, assistant to the president for strategic initiatives and board relations, to implement the change to becoming a tobacco-free campus starting winter term 2010.
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The committee is divided into nine groups with various duties that report back to Jacobs.
“A communication plan has been developed using multiple communication methods to ensure not only employees and students are informed but also community members, visitors, contractors, etc.,” said Jacobs.
She said two groups are working on developing procedures for enforcement and two groups are developing resources for employees and students.
ASG President Bradley Best said, “The Lung Association of Oregon is working very diligently with the committee. They will provide any signage (posters, key chains, etc.).”
Jacobs added that the Lung Association of Oregon is contributing $1,000 toward the cost.
Brittney Stanley, a nursing student who works in the Health and Wellness Resource Center, said that information about quitting smoking will be available in the Health and Wellness Resource Center as well as on the MHCC website.
The decision to become a tobacco-free campus was made during a May 14 MHCC District board meeting. During that meeting, the student senate complained of the lack of student involvement in the decision-making process.
The idea of having a tobacco-free campus was introduced one month before the decision was made. Former ASG President Janine Johnston said, “There wasn’t appropriate input on the matter.”
ASG Vice President Bethany Peterman said the board was not open to amendments and wanted to completely rid MHCC of tobacco use without any attempt to compromise.
Candie Johnson, a Transitions student, said, “It’s inconvenient to go clear across (campus) to smoke in a different area.”
Johnson thinks the board should have made a compromise to the students, such as “put more of a closed area instead of an open area so it wouldn’t be around everyone, instead of making them (the smokers) walk half a mile jut to smoke.”
“This is being done too fast,” health and physical education instructor Joseph McNeal said during the May board meeting. “If we institute something that is so drastic and hastily done, we are going to lose students.”
MHCC is not the only college campus going smoke-free. Portland Community College and Lane Community College have opted to become tobacco-free campuses as well.
“They are going to remind, educate and tell people that smoking is no longer allowed on PCC campuses,” said Best about implementing the tobacco free policy at MHCC. “Lane Community College has worked with their student government to allow smoking in designated areas.”
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