Samantha Chaffin
News Editor
The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at Idaho State University announced via email on Aug. 30 that the campus-wide Smoke Free Policy will be enforced by the Department of Public Safety effective immediately.
Smoking is defined by the policy as “the burning of tobacco or any other material in any type of smoking equipment including but not restricted to cigarettes, cigars and pipes. E-cigarettes are also banned.”
Vice President of Student Affairs Pat Terrell clarified that, although it doesn’t involve burning or flame, “vaping” is considered a form of an E-cigarette and is included in the ban.
“Basically, anything that wouldn’t be allowed on an airplane [regarding tobacco] is not allowed on campus,” said Terrell.
Terrell explained that officials considered allowing these forms of flame-free smoking however, from a distance, vaping or E-cigarettes could not easily be differentiated from another form of smoking and the university aims to avoid time-consuming accidental false reports from other students or faculty who see someone using either a vape product or an E-cigarette.
Public Safety will issue either a written warning or written notice of violations of the Smoke Free Policy.
Faculty or staff violators will receive referrals to their supervisor and matters will be dealt with on an individual basis. Student violators will be referred to the Student Conduct Office.
Any student violation will result in an individual meeting with Director of Student Life Jane Coe Smith following an incident report that will be filed stating the student’s alleged violation.
During the meeting, Coe Smith will find out the circumstances of the situation surrounding the violation and determine whether that person is responsible for violating the student conduct code, of which the Smoke Free Policy is included under “Other acts of misconduct.”
Should a student be found responsible, further repercussions ranging from a verbal warning to probation to fines or restitution could ensue.
Each violation will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis; however, defiant or repeated violations may result in more severe individualized consequences.
Terrell said it was too early to determine any potential further steps in the implementation of the Smoke Free Policy at ISU however further steps could be considered should the need arise.
“I think that most people are good citizens and want to comply with whatever the policies are wherever they are employed or go to school,” expressed Terrell.
The Smoke Free Policy applies to all university-owned property including all buildings, exterior open spaces, parking lots, on-campus sidewalks, university-owned streets, driveways, athletic and practice facilities and recreational spaces” as well as in all university-owned or leased vehicles on Pocatello and Meridian campuses.
Terrell pointed out that although smoking areas are not in effect, smokers only have to go as far as city-owned sidewalks, which are sidewalks that border public streets.
According to the email release, “This policy is intended to reduce the health risks related to smoking and secondhand smoke for the campus community.”
“So far, the responses I have received [regarding the policy] have been overwhelmingly in favor of enforcement,” said Terrell.
Terrell noted that she has received approximately three negative comments.
The ISU Student Conduct Code can be viewed online on the Student Affairs webpage at www.isu.edu/studA.
