The smoke-free policy is planned to be in effect when the fall semester commences in August. In compliance with the SB36 bill proposed by Senator David Heitmeier, which was passed into an act, required by law for "public post-secondary education institutions to develop smoke-free policies for its campuses."
This act will be initiated on Aug. 1, marking the first official day that Southeastern's campus will become smoke-free. Some students have been waiting for the smoke-free policy to be implemented for longer than a year.
"I have been looking forward to the smoke-free policy all year long," said Kimmie Luce, senior special education major. "I can't wait for this August where it will be a violation to smoke outside my AC unit and have smoke come into my resident hall room as well as walking through smoke, especially near the library and stuck behind people walking with a cigarette. I am highly sensitive to it and suffer from secondhand smoke, and I know others do as well."
Other students in favor of campus becoming smoke-free to avoid secondhand smoke believe it will improve the overall quality of the university.
"I'm glad that Southeastern is going to become a smoke-free campus. I personally did not enjoy breathing in secondhand smoke while in public areas around campus," said Amelia Haag, freshman history major. "I understand this is going to be hard for some students, but on a whole I think it will benefit the school."
Students who smoke cigarettes feel smokers are being stigmatized as a group of people and that this policy regresses college to the standards of lower education.
"[Smoking] alienates an entire group of students," said Whitney Nickens, senior English major. "It's legal. It's not a high school; everyone is of age."
Though students have different views on the non-smoking policy being implemented in August, students should be aware of changes to the Student Code of Conduct.
No designated smoking areas will be available on a campus-wide, smoke-free environment. One must leave the school's premises in order to use any form of tobacco.
According to Erin Cowser, Executive Director of Public and Governmental Affairs, the only exception to this rule will be vehicles that are parked on campus because they are "legally the extension of one's home."
Along with all tobacco products being banned, any electronic cigarettes or electronic smoking devices are also to be banned from campus.
Housing students are advised to read their residential guidebook upon moving into dormitory and note changes in the guidebook dealing with tobacco laws. Robin Parker, Director of Marketing and Initiatives Auxiliary Services said the Resident Guide will be updated with the changes to the tobacco policy taking effect on campus.
Disciplinary consequences are still being determined for students who bring tobacco onto the campus.
"Consequences have not yet been finalized, but are expected to mirror those enacted with the anti-litter policy that recently went into effect on campus," said Cowser.
To ensure that all students become aware of the policy that is awaiting final approval, Southeastern will take actions in order to raise awareness of the policy change on campus.
"Once that happens [final approval of policy], a communications campaign involving social media, on-campus signage, tutelage during orientations sessions and part of SE 101 and more will commence," said Cowser.
For more information, students should access the Student Handbook for the current academic year that can be found on the university website.