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Tobacco debate is smokin’ hot

Maddie Koufogazos
Conector Editor

Student Government Association petitions for tobacco-free campus

The smoking debate on-campus has been sparking up as actions are being made by the Student Government Association (SGA) and other student organizations to progress the discussion of a tobacco-free policy at UMass Lowell.

Multiple steps have already been taken to promote the campaign, which was launched last October. A recent email from Amanda Robinson, chairperson of the SGA’s Campus Life and Environment Committee, to UMass Lowell students said, “Through our Campus Life and Environment Committee, we began to engage the University community on to the topic through several steps, including speaking with student groups and other student leaders, receiving over 2,000 signatures on a petition supporting a tobacco free {sic} policy, holding programs on the topic, and having three meetings with administration to discuss the matter.” The petition has not yet been passed.

Some students disagree with the petition, and do not want it to pass. “No one should have the right to tell anyone what they can or can’t do,” said Justin Campaniello, a senior fine arts major. “I think the only negative effect of it (smoking) is littering.”

Robinson understands that students may think the campaign is infringing on their rights, but believes a tobacco-free campus would be in their best interest.

“It has frequently been suggested that we are acting unfairly towards smokers and violating their interests, but that is far from our intentions,” she said.

The tobacco-free policy would help improve the health of all students, and it is important to try to help student smokers early on, said Robinson. “According to the 2012 Surgeon General’s Report, 99 percent of of smokers begin smoking before the age of 26, thus making prevention during college critical,” she said.

A sophomore fine arts major who wishes to not be named thinks the policy would not be fair for student-smokers. “As a smoker living on campus, I do try to be conscientious of those around me when I do smoke a cigarette and aim to be respectful as I do so. I don’t find it to be fair to ban smoking outright for those of us who do respect the non-smokers around us on campus,” she said.

If the campaign succeeds, UMass Lowell administration will be in charge of implementing the guidelines that would be paired with the policy, said Robinson. The hope is that smoking on-campus will become more difficult for students, and will lead them to quit smoking altogether, she said. Student-smokers can attend cessation programs that are designed to help them quit smoking.

UMass Lowell would not be the first university to implement the policy. If the petition passes, UMass Lowell would be following in the footsteps of universities like Northeastern University, UMass Amherst, and Salem State University, said Robinson. “As of 2013, 1,178 campuses across the nation had implemented a smoke-free policy. Of those 1,178 campuses, 793 opted to go entirely tobacco free,” she said. The fact that so many colleges and universities have successfully implemented this policy means that UMass Lowell would be able to do so as well, said Robinson.

Robinson believes that implementing the smoke-free policy is the best option for everyone. “It is not fair for students to be exposed to something that is scientifically and medically proven to be harmful to their health.”

SGA is running the initiative with the support and aid of: Relay for Life, M.A.L.E.S., MassPIRG, Muslim Student Association, Catholic Student Union, S.I.S.T.E.R.S, Men’s Nursing, Healthy Hawks, Community Health Club, Pre-Law, Manning School of Business, Student Environment Alliance, Chemical and Nuclear Engineering and the Student Athlete Advisory Council, said Robinson.