2008 Woodie Awards
Proposal issued for a tobacco- free TU
Potential policy to go be discussed in fall, go into effect by Jan. 1, 2011
Kiel McLaughlin
News | 4/28/08
The University's work toward creating a smoke-free campus has extended its reach to ban all tobacco products by Jan. 1, 2011, according to a proposal.
Vice president for student affairs Deb Moriarty said she has sent copies of the proposal to the Student Government Association, University Residence Government, Towson University Staff Council, and the American Association of University Professors. The proposal was also given to the University Senate and will be discussed at their monthly meeting on May 5.
"We want to get it to the [University] Senate this spring and create a larger campus dialogue in the fall so we can finalize it by the end of the fall. Then we will spend the next two years educating the campus," Moriarty said. "It's only a proposal at this point. We need time to sink through all of the sticky issues."
By widening the reach from simply smoking to other tobacco products, Moriarty said the University is trying to "cover all of its bases."
Members of the Towson task force attended a national conference about smoking bans in order to minimize concerns when implementing a proposal on campus.
"We are leaving this open for discussion so we can hear the concerns," Moriarty said. "We don't have a large percentage of campus that smokes so for a lot of people, this won't be an issue."
The proposal covers all parts of the University, both interior and exterior, along with sidewalks and streets within campus.
Students, faculty and staff in violation of the proposed policy would be subject to a $50 fine.
Further violations would result in a referral to judicial affairs for students. Staff and faculty would meet with their supervisor or human resources.
Enforcement of the proposed policy would rely on members of the University community to police one another.
"Step one is educating people how to approach someone and let them know they are in violation of University policy," Moriarty said.
Vice president for student affairs Deb Moriarty said she has sent copies of the proposal to the Student Government Association, University Residence Government, Towson University Staff Council, and the American Association of University Professors. The proposal was also given to the University Senate and will be discussed at their monthly meeting on May 5.
"We want to get it to the [University] Senate this spring and create a larger campus dialogue in the fall so we can finalize it by the end of the fall. Then we will spend the next two years educating the campus," Moriarty said. "It's only a proposal at this point. We need time to sink through all of the sticky issues."
By widening the reach from simply smoking to other tobacco products, Moriarty said the University is trying to "cover all of its bases."
Members of the Towson task force attended a national conference about smoking bans in order to minimize concerns when implementing a proposal on campus.
"We are leaving this open for discussion so we can hear the concerns," Moriarty said. "We don't have a large percentage of campus that smokes so for a lot of people, this won't be an issue."
The proposal covers all parts of the University, both interior and exterior, along with sidewalks and streets within campus.
Students, faculty and staff in violation of the proposed policy would be subject to a $50 fine.
Further violations would result in a referral to judicial affairs for students. Staff and faculty would meet with their supervisor or human resources.
Enforcement of the proposed policy would rely on members of the University community to police one another.
"Step one is educating people how to approach someone and let them know they are in violation of University policy," Moriarty said.
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