The Faculty Senate will vote Friday about whether to endorse or oppose proposed policy brought forth by a new student task force, which would make the University of Denver campus tobacco free.
If passed, the policy would prohibit tobacco use, but not possession, on the DU campus. Students, faculty and staff would still be able to have, though not use, tobacco products.
The tobacco policy was first presented to the Faculty Senate during its November meeting, and was discussed in more depth on Jan. 30.
There are some concerns among faculty about the proposed policy, Faculty Senate president Michael Levine-Clark said.
Some senators have raised concerns about smokers moving into the local community to use tobacco in the neighborhoods around campus.
There are also worries about long-time employees who would potentially be forced to suddenly stop smoking. Some senators have voiced the concern that, “If you don’t quit right away you’re out of a job,” said Levine-Clark.
Most senators are supporters of the current polic that prohibits smoking 25 feet from university buildings, but there is some hesitation about implementing a campus-wide smoking restriction.
“It’s safe to say everybody [on the senate] supports the idea of tobacco free spaces, everybody supports the idea of helping people quit,” said Levine-Clark. “There’s less support for the idea of a tobacco free campus entirely.”
Faculty Sen. Victor Castellani, Languages and Literature Department chair, supports prohibition of using tobacco in university buildings but said a tobacco free policy seems to be overkill.
“Protecting people from themselves can go too far,” he said.
A tobacco-free policy would do little for DU’s general reputation, and would be met with resistance, said Castellani.
“The effect would be minimal, would probably not affect people’s behavior at all, and would just make some people angry,” he said.
Civil rights play a strong role in Castellani’s opinion of a tobacco-free policy.
“What the law does not forbid is guaranteed to citizens,” he said.
The task force behind the tobacco-free policy will meet with Chancellor Coombe on March 16.
If he agrees to implement the measure, it will go to the board of trustees for final approval. Levine-Clark is confident the Chancellor will act in favor of student and faculty opinion.
“Certainly he would take into account what we have to say,” he said.
Campus Safety has drafted a tentative system to enforce violations of the proposed policy.
According to a report provided by Tyrone Mills, associate director of Campus Safety, the offender would be informed of the tobacco-free DU policy, asked to comply with the policy by discontinuing use or moving off campus, given a business card with more information about the policy and how to quit. The offender will be reported to the appropriate office if he or she chooses not to comply.
More than 260 universities and colleges have adopted similar tobacco policies. If the proposed measure passes, DU would be the first major university in Colorado to be tobacco-free.
As far as the Senate vote, it will likely end in a compromise, he said.
“There’s some concern it’s a little too heavy handed, a little too much.”
