The University Senate recommends the University take steps toward becoming a smoke-free campus, the body voted Wednesday in its monthly meeting.
The Senate also endorsed the Smoke Free Task Force’s report from November 2008, which recommended the campus become smoke-free within two years, a time limit the Senate did not discuss in its meeting.
Instead, senators were concerned with some of the wording in the original motion, which said, “The UO Senate endorses the report of the Smoke Free Task Force and recommends that the University Administration establish the University of Oregon campus as smoke free.”
Several people worried about the burden of enforcing the rule being placed on the central administration and the financial impact of that arrangement.
The discussion closely followed Provost Jim Bean’s explanation of the precarious situation the state’s budget for higher education is in. He made it clear the next biennium, which is the time frame posited by the Task Force to make the campus smoke-free, will see significant drops in funding to the University.
In addition to being worried about the financial ramifications of going smoke-free, the Senate was concerned about the enforcement of such a rule.
Would the rule include smoking in vehicles on campus? Would it include parking lots and tailgating before football games? Would it include cigarette advertising in campus publications? Who would implement it? The questions rolled on.
Eventually, the Senate voted to pass an amended version of the motion, which removed the words “University Administration,” leaving the enforcer of a smoke-free campus unspecified. It also changed “establish” to “move toward.”
The new construction allows for intermediate steps between allowing smoking and prohibiting it, said ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz, who spoke at the meeting.
He agreed with the Senate’s revised motion, and said, “I think it was a victory for the process in that it doesn’t tie the hands of anyone.”
A “healthy compromise,” he said, would be designated smoking areas on campus that are “clearly identifiable and not just circles on a map.”
Part of the problem now, Dotters-Katz said, is that the rules regarding smoking near building entrances are not enforced. More rules, such as prohibiting all smoking, would likely go unenforced as well, he said, eroding the student body’s respect for the University’s authority.
In other business, the Senate:
? Voted to accept the University’s conflict-of-interest policy and accompanying documents.
? Heard from President Dave Frohnmayer and incoming President Richard Lariviere on the state of the University, which both of them called uncertain and financially unstable. “Without (the faculty and staff’s) care, and support, and investment, we won’t get anywhere,” Lariviere said.
? Heard reports from Provost Jim Bean, Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny, Senate Vice President Peter Gilkey and Senate President Paul van Donkelaar regarding the state budget, the athletic department’s yearly progress report, the Inter-Faculty Senate and an update on internal governance, respectively.
? The next meeting will be May 13 in 115 Lawrence Hall at 3:00 p.m.
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