Pretty Even for Smoking Referendum

The results are in and a little over 1,100 Case students responded to the USG smoking referendum questions.

Resolution A calling for a smoke-free campus barely passed with 50.68% (562 yes to 547 no).

The other two resolutions B & C calling for designated smoking areas and limits on smoking around buildings failed, but it was pretty close. 51.67% against for C and 52.93% against for D.

Turnout was 27.69%, based on FTE equivalent of 4005.

Obviously, a complete smoking ban may not be possible. Would the campus police department be able to enforce such a ban and would that take away from their purpose of protecting students from robbery, theft, assault, and other more dangerous situations? I know smoking is bad for your health, but we could focus on counseling programs and offering support for smokers to kick the habit. Banning them to the suburbs is not the ideal way to foster community and unity. Would the ban cover all university-sponsored housing? Being able to smoke in your own residence hall room will be a thing of the past.

Smoking is a social ill. After this is done, alcohol will be next on the purists' target list.

Comments

Posted by: ed
Posted on: January 29, 2007 03:01 PM

With the vote that close, it's obvious many nonsmokers voted against it. Is the propaganda machine failing to deliver?

Posted by: James (Author)
Posted on: January 29, 2007 04:14 PM

Well the vote shows that the smoking issue is quite important for the student body, and you can see that it's pretty much half and half, give or take.

Would the University go with a smoke-free campus? Of course the resolution only indicates the viewpoint of the students. It would be interesting to know what is the GSS position as well as the Faculty Senate.

Posted by:
Posted on: February 2, 2007 01:11 PM

Smoking in residence halls are already against housing policies so the resolution won't affect that aspect.