Nicholls will be a tobacco-free campus, starting Jan. 1, 2011, by prohibiting the use of tobacco products in any form.Eugene Dial, vice president of student affairs and enrollment services, said that this change is due to the lack of compliance with the current policy, which allows students to smoke 25 feet away from campus buildings. Dial said Nicholls officials sent out information in both print and electronic formats, asking students and staff to follow the policy, but there was no change in behavior.
“If you walk around any building, you’ll see hundreds of cigarette butts right next to the entrance every day,” Dial said.
Dial said that the policy change is not only due to a problem with health and safety, but also about the continuous littering on University property.
“It was decided that we would do the same thing that 365 schools across the country did last November,” Dial said.
The University will go through a procedure to give students notice so that they can be prepared when the new policy goes into effect in January.
“My guess is that we will spend a lot of time making sure every single person on the campus knows, and not one person can say that they weren’t aware,” Dial said.
The faculty, staff and students will be informed about the options that are available if they choose to quit smoking. Dial said the University is also looking into what services are covered by health insurance.
Dial also said that once the policy comes into effect, there will be a warning process.
“We’re going to expect faculty and staff across the campus to very politely remind others that Nicholls is tobacco-free,” Dial said.
If they do not respond properly, campus police will be notified.
Dial said that there were several ideas to create a smoke-free area, but there is no funding for it.
“We can’t say we’re going to get rid of two English professors to build a smoke zone,” Dial said.
Students have mixed opinions about the new policy.
Seth Vaughn, business administration sophomore from Berwick, said he understands both sides of the argument. “I wouldn’t have a problem with people smoking or using tobacco products if they would just follow the rules,” Vaughn said. “But they don’t, so I’m digging it.”
Brian Lutman, general studies alumnus from Slidell, said that he finds the new policy extreme. “I don’t use tobacco, but I’ve never heard of anyone dying from second-hand chew,” Lutman said.
Dial said that the use of chewing tobacco is not as big an issue compared to smoking, but it is still a problem that needs to be addressed.
“I can bring you around and show you stains from where people have been chewing tobacco and spitting,” Dial said. He said most people on campus follow the rules and accept the changes that have to be made.
Jessalyn Bourgeois, secondary education sophomore from Raceland, said that she’s glad she won’t have to worry about her allergies acting up as soon as she walks out of the Student Union.
“We never like to impose rules unless there’s a compelling interest to protect the academic integrity of the campus or the health and safety of the campus community,” Dial said. “And that’s the reason why this is being put in place.
