Student Government continues to seek smoke-free campus

Written by Brittany Bergstrom Friday, 20 November 2009 08:00

Currently, “Smoke-Free Facilities,” Policy 153, prohibits smoking in all NDSU buildings, residence halls and enclosed areas.

However, students, faculty and staff are permitted to smoke outdoors, at least 50 feet away from buildings. This fall, the student government is setting out to make the entire campus smoke-free.

“A Smoke-Free Campus,” which would be included under Policy 153, was recently presented to the entire university for a vote. Results show that both the student body and the staff senate approved a smoking ban.

Student President Amber Alstadt is hopeful that a campus-wide smoking ban will be made a reality soon.

“This can be a long process, but in the end, I hope that we find an outcome that will suit the students, staff and faculty,” Altstadt said.

NDSU faculty recently finished their large body vote.  However, the official results of this vote have not been released at this time.

The next step in passing the smoke-free campus policy is to bring the issue to the University Senate.

The policy will be discussed at the next Senate meeting on Dec. 14 at 3:30 p.m. in the Plains Room of the Memorial Union. The Senate, who will have the last official vote on the issue, will then decide when the vote will take place.