Students, faculty and staff are invited to an open forum to learn more about the university’s proposed smoke-free and tobacco-free policy. Organizers hope to address concerns and solicit feedback from the university community at the event.
By Karen Cochrane
After meeting with several key constituent groups representing students, faculty and staff, university officials are moving forward with an education and communication campaign about the university’s proposed smoke-free and tobacco-free policy. The tentative date of implementation is Jan. 1, 2011, with voluntary implementation beginning July 1, 2010.
A town forum to address concerns and solicit feedback about the proposed policy is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Graham Center Ballroom at Modesto A. Maidique Campus. The event will be webcast live to Biscayne Bay Campus in WUC 155.
“This initiative is about creating a healthier campus environment for all members of the FIU family,” says Dr. Richard Botelho, chair of the Tobacco-free Campus Steering Committee of the Healthy University Task Force and assistant dean of Faculty and Student Development in the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Under the proposed policy, smoking and the use of tobacco products would be prohibited on any FIU campus, including in buildings, athletic facilities and outdoors. Such a policy has already been adopted by hundreds of universities across the United States.
Smokers who would like help making the transition to a smoke-free university will be urged to contact FIU’s Wellness Center, which offers free individual counseling sessions. Additionally, nicotine replacement therapies will be offered for sale at MMC and BBC. A Web site currently in development will list campus and community tobacco dependence/cessation services as well.
“We are aware of the impact this proposed policy will have on some people’s lives,” says Botelho. “We are committed to offering our full support to any member of the university community who wishes to stop smoking or who needs assistance getting through the day without using tobacco.”
The university will implement the tobacco-free and smoke-free policy through education and social engagement. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Pixie—I appreciate your politeness. I just want to clarify that if FIU imposes a ban on smoking on the premises, that doesn’t mean that people will quit smoking. It simply means that many smokers will quit smoking on campus; some will not: some will go to their cars if they are allowed to smoke in their vehicles, and there are a small few who will probably ignore the ban altogether (as with any type of ban). However, smokers will quit smoking when they decide to quit smoking and that might be when the ban goes into effect or it might not. If/when I do quit smoking, it will be because I have decided to quit—not because FIU has enforced a ban.
Jeff—I wrote my previous message before I saw your latest rant. I think you pegged it correctly: you are (in your words) “OBSESSED” with smokers and smoking! I am quite glad that when I signed up to post on this forum that I did not include my last name (or use my FIU email address) as I really think you might be one of those individuals who would cause a scene that would put FIU in the national news. It wouldn't surprise me if you pronounced yourself the smoking police of FIU and pulled a Columbine or Virginia Tech, targeting smokers. Yes, with your hate mail and your obsession, that is how frightening you now sound! So before this escalates any further, I am leaving this forum! You are truly becoming frightening!
Carla and Matt,
Good luck looking for a new school where you can smoke because many are becoming smoke-free and tobacco-free. University of Florida is going tobacco-free on July 1, 2010. University of Central Florida, FAU, and Univ. of South FL all want to do the same. Harvard is smoke-free and over 380 universities in the US are already smoke-free. Every day people of becoming more educated and realized the negative health impact of using tobacco products. This certainly applies to universities where you find the smartest and most educated people. Everyone does not have the intelligence or opportunity to attend a university. If you are here, you obviously have both intelligence and the opportunity. So, when you make choices, choose wisely. Try not to choose things that will ultimately harm you. You'll pay the highest price, your life.
Kim, Amartya, Carla and Matt,
Smoking in one's car does not guarantee that others will not breathe your second-hand smoke. For example, if you are smoking in your car and I park next to you, as soon as open your door, I may breathe some of your second-hand smoke. If someone else walks by on the way to their car, they also breathe your second-hand smoke. Unfortunately, to truly protect everyone on campus from second-hand smoke, there does need to be a total ban on campus.
Kim and Amartya,
There is no comparison with coffee, alcohol, fast food, and tobacco. If you drink 10 cups of coffee in the morning and 2 bottles of liquor at night while eating fast food throughout the entire day, my health is not directly being affected, but if you smoke 1 cigarette and I am near you, I am affected.
Amartya,
In response to you entry that there are no healthy foods on campus: There are a few healthy vending machines on campus where you can buy snacks that do not contain corn syrup, pesticides, cholesterol, and other unhealthy ingredients. They are located in GC, DM, HLS II, and housing. There are organic snacks in the Panther Stop next to the bookstore, and a local and organic Farmers' Market every Wednesday by the central fountain. Everything there is healthy! There are some organic vegetarian wraps, delicious smoothies, and lots of other stuff. It's great! Hope to see you there!
I hope my comments have helped clear things up (no pun intended).
Nancy
FIU Fan — Again, has turned the whole entire post (for her) away from the real issue — the proposed smoking ban. Her opinions of me don't matter. What I hope through this discussion was maybe, just maybe, we passionate non-smokers, get one person to quit — that would be a good thing for them and the health cost issue.
My comments stand and there wasn't one — wait, there was one that Maria C offered up that smoking is just as good as eating ice cream — argument offered that could defend the smoker's rights as more important than ours as non-smoker's. Although, most smokers could care less about non-smoker's rights to breathe air that doesn't contain tobacco carcinogens.
My purpose of my commenting on this issue was to get rid of smoking and its horrible consequences in lives and costs.
So, I hope all will non-smokers join the forum on campus on March 23 and speak up, if allowed, on support of the FIU Administration that wants to make this new policy. Believe me, they'll get the FIU Fan's and the Ice Cream Girl showing up telling them if they don't change their minds, they'll boycott the world. So, non-smokers notify the adminstration that making this policy, that your in support of their ban. Otherwise, only people they'll hear from are all the smoker's complaining. Don't just offer words — actions are needed!
This issue is not between me and FIU Fan or Maria C. It's about the well-being of the student population and faculty at FIU to rid themselves of this nasty product!
FIU Fan — I'm not a bigot (only in your eyes, and I still bet you smoke) and my life and my wife and two kids are doing just fine — been married for 24 years to the same woman without the Tiger Woods or recent, Jesse James issues.
Enjoy the weekend everyone,
Jeff
This is ridiculous, but then again it does not surprise me. It falls right in line with FIU and other college campus censorship policies that have spread like wild fire in the 21st century. Politically correct policies that tear down liberties which were once thought to be irrevocable. That a person can't sit at a park bench and smoke a cigarette or cigar is beyond ridiculous. Even casual or part time smokers make sure to buy a pack before FINALS – I don't think the bigoted, politically correct campus officials realize how big of a role smoking plays in studying for probably 1/3 of FIU students.
FIU feels like it has to make up for something { x } by creating rules that it does not have to. Making it hard for itself and stirring up controversy for no reason apparently.
What utter nonsense, I hope this thing doesn't pass… And if it does, I hope some ACLU type group stands up and supports the 1/3 of students who smoke.
Big Brotha —
Your 1/3 is WRONG! Nationwide the statistic is about 20% of the adult US population smokes. You "politcally correct" — if FIU and the others around the nation that have already successfully implemented this policy, were trying to be "policicatlly correct," then they'd be trying to please you smokers. I love how all of you during the last election thought it was great when Obama got elected by the "majority" of the people. You all sat around and said, "Democracy has been served." Why does it only apply, when smokers speak, to the national election and anything they agree with, but when it comes to democracy (majority/people rule) their abilty to smoke whenever/wherever they'd like, they don't like it?
80% of the majority of people on FIU's Campus don't smoke, so Big Brotha, too bad if you don't like it. We live in a democracy, right?
I feel we don't live in a democracy anymore, but a Republic, where the rights of the minority are just as equal as the rights of the majority.
FIU Fan and Kim — the nicotine's fried your brains! Comparing me to the Columbine or West Virginia type person just shows your ignorance and self-absorbed behavior! Neither one of you, or any other smoker has laid claim to NEVER LITTERING. or PAYING FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH CARE costs!
You want the right to abuse your health — go ahead, just don't ask the 80% of us non-smokers to do it for you! Offer something next post to you paying for your owh healthcare and picking up every one of your stinky cigarettes after you're finished, and I'll buy you a pack of cigarettes!
No, you both just keep bringing up ridiculous rationalizations on my posts! You've spent your entire life being told by your friends or accepted by your friends and they don't tell you anything bad! Well, I'm not your friend and there are more people on this post that agree with me telling you and other smokers that we're sick of your nasty habit and want you to clean up your butts and I want you to pay for your own oxygen bottles, nurses, and doctors when, NOT IF, you get emphysema or something else. Sorry, you don't like the truth with regards to your smoking. I voiced it, but every time you light up around non-smokers — check their eye contact. Look at their disgusted look when your right to smoke and smoke hits their nostrils. Watch them pack up and leave you to your peace. Then you can say, "They really love me don't they?" I said it, and you compare me to murderers. I can guarantee you I have a pristine criminal background — no DUi's — haven't had a traffic ticket since 1994, and no I don't need you to tell me my background looked similar to the one you referred to.
Kim — what a joke of brain energy. I'll say it for the last time, not because I want the last word, but because your thought process is in need of repairs. Smoking near non-smokers — next time look around. Ask the non-smoker, as you puff and they don't — ask them how much they "love your right to smoke."
Thanks for reading.
I was under the impression that this was a public forum for the FIU students to contribute feedback. I had no idea it was going to turn into smokers vs. Jeff. I wouldn't have given my initial opinion if I knew this joker would try badgering everyone to agree with his view when FIU set this up for EVERYONE.
Jeff, you make a good arguement. I disagree with your extremist tactics full of hate and arrogance. Don't you think you've made your point? Let the other students have their voices heard whether they are selfish blood suckers who smoke cigarettes or not. No where on FIU's message did I see "students will have to answer to Jeff."
MV — Where have I "hogged up" all the storage space on the blog's servers? I'm sure there is plenty of megabytes left for your pro-smoking agenda comments. All your smoker friends have had the opportunity to post.
Where did Karen post that "only one post per person was allowed?" I've appreciated her professionalism by allowing the free debate. Just because I can write a lot doesn't mean I've kept any of your supporters from contributing good arguments on the positive benefits of smoking. Guess there aren't many, huh?
Smoking in our country has been going on for a couple of hundred years. Most people are apathetic towards this subject — "accepting they'll never change anything," and haven't said much to smokers over the years. In the past two decades, with guys like me, we've seen to it that we've removed smoking from planes, inside airports, public buildings, and inside buildings. What's next? Moving smokers from 30 feet from any public building, and now universities. I'm not taking credit for FIU's decision or any others — just trying to affect the direction the way I think it should go to please the majority of people — the non smoking society.
As for your comments, MV, on "smokers vs. Jeff" — only the nicotine can be blamed for their comments. I stood up for my beliefs and haven't attacked anyone, other than attacking smoking, which Kim and FIU Fan and others have associated their habit, which is what I hate, to my comments of saying "I hate smokers." Just today, I counted over 200 cigarette butts in my daily run. How'd they get there smokers? Just fell off the truck, right? I want EVERY single smoker to pick up their trash! They don't, so this is why I hate them. I've tried to make it clear, MV, but when I hear the argument from smokers that, "I have the right ____" (go ahead, fill in the excuse, I've heard it before) they stop thinking that you, as a smoker, do NOT have the right to litter nor the right to cost us 80% of non-smokers the medical bills for the habit.
MV — is this clear enough?
It's not my blog — I just excercised my right to free speech. On this subject, I figured we would have had thousands of posts from smokers, just like Maria C defending their claim to the wonderful health benefits of eating ice cream and smoking, but most of the other smokers were too busy out having a puff!
Thanks for reading.
Jeff -
We live in a republic, but not the Republic of Cuba.
The possible implementation of this anti-smoking ban will be a start to the well known, "slippery slope" of diminished liberties that will soon infringe on something dear to you. Like your money. Pretty soon there will be stop sign cameras and speeding cameras all over campus. They will fine you $100+ for not coming to a complete stop or for going 5mph over the speed limit. Trust me bro, this type of obsessive enforcement will soon creep into your life in a way that you won't like…
BTW my 1/3 statistic is probably accurate if you count all the students who socially smoke with friends around FIU – including those who "bum" smokes among friends socially and especially those who occasionally smoke around tests, FINALS, or weekends. Undergraduates help this percentage increase. Miami is a party city, and given the relative low cost of cigarettes compared to other states like New York, there are more smokers per capita here in Miami than most other metro areas IMO.
Regards –
Hi again FIU crowd. Let’s try not to be mean to each other. I know it is not easy to be when nobody cares about us smokers with feeling. Jeff I know you have been a good person once and I know you do not mean to talk bad things. You are mad with yourself and so it is always normal to throw your anger at others. I have done this too so I am understanding your hurt. If you need me to help. I am there as a freind.
Blessings to all,
Maria C.
I think Jeff should run for Student Government.
If implemented, this ban on smoking will only be infringing on the rights of the students, faculty, and staff. It is a ridiculous notion that creating a ban on smoking will at all change the “healthiness” of the campus environment. Frankly, unless someone is smoking inside a building, it should not bother any non-smokers when they walk around campus and see smokers outside. The truth is, that FIU wants to create a healthier campus environment, then maybe it should consider have cleaner bathrooms and eating areas. I was undergrad student here, and I currently attend the College of Law, and I have never seen anybody actually clean and sanitize the tables that we all sit on in GC.
Let’s just be honest, non-smokers would prefer for the FIU smokers to accept the ban because of the false notion that it would create a healthier environment, but the truth is that this ban should not be implemented on the “preferences” of anybody. FIU is a public institution, this would be the same as telling smokers that they should not smoke on the street. In fact, if FIU wants to promote a healthier campus environment, why not start with something that can actually affect the safety of the FIU community like creating a “dry” campus. [For those of you that do not know what I mean by “dry”, it is simply a term used to describe alcohol free. While I cannot confirm this, I would assume that the Chilli’s Too that is set to open in GC where Gracie’s Grill (which used to sell beer) used to be will be selling alcohol. Should I bring up some statistics on the dangers of drinking (not only to the drinker himself, but also to those around him through the irresponsibility of drunk driving, for example)?
Even if Chili’s Too does not sell alcohol, there are plenty of events where alcohol is served in the school, and this has a more adverse effect on the FIU community!
I hope that you all can see that this smoking ban is pointless and ridiculous, FIU is “smoke-free” enough by not selling tobacco on campus. That fact alone should be enough of an inconvenience for FIU community smokers.
There really is no viable or truthful justification for this ban. The truth is that FIU is simply succumbing to the social pressure of fitting in with this anti-smoking vendetta. Enough is enough!
If FIU wants to forced smokers from smoking on her campus, fine! How about if ALL OF US STOP BUYING FIU MERCHANDISE, VENDING MACHINE PRODUCTS? That ought to get rid of that STUPID PEPSI contract FIU has with Pepsi. LET'S ALL BOYCOTT FIU-RELATED PRODUCTS MERCHANDISE, especially VENDING MACHINE products. We will see how would they feel when they are in the situation. Now, suppose this becomes a law, how is FIU going to ENFORCE IT? Through police? FIU must now set aside MONEY, additional money from TUITION, in order to pay off these officers. If an officer catches students smoking, what are they going to do? Take them to jail? I think this is nothing but a stupid plan set forth by a few people who has nothing better to do but to infringe the rights of people thereby avocating, at the same time, human rights. Want to know why the world is what it is? Why is FIU corrupted? Because the STUDENT GOVERNMENT BODY has NO POWER, and NO LEADERSHIP. If they did, they would REPRESENT US STUDENTS, rather than always YIELD to the university's BOR.
FIU Law and Engineering Student — Again, you prove my previous points on how selfish you smokers are! NOT ONE comment on the rights of the non-smoker to breathe clean, polluted air. You think non-smokers are "entitled and treated" to your wonderful cancer-filled rat poison you so freely distribute to us on the street and in "public" spaces.
Non-smokers are also taxpaying citizens that pay for tuition and salaries too! You make it seem like we should only cater to you "smoker's rights" people.
I was just at the beach this past week and witnessed several smokers flicking their butts in the ocean, putting them out in the sand and covering them up, and tossing them into those "public" streets for us all to enjoy. Clean up your butts, create a self-inhaling mask that keeps the smoke ONLY in your nostrils and lungs, and pay for your own healthcare to treat your stupid habit, and the rest of us non-smokers won't care about imposing new restrictions on your "right to smoke!"
Thanks for reading.