SGA debates smoking ban resolution

Discussions on a resolution to ban smoking from the West Virginia University Health Sciences Center was met with debate at Wednesday's Student Government Association meeting.

At last week's meeting, Dave Harshbarger, wellness manager at the HSC, asked the Board of Governors to propose a resolution for a smoking ban to be placed on the University's BOG agenda.

The BOG requested a stronger policy of education for students, faculty and staff on methods to quit smoking and the availability of classes to aid in the commitment, the resolution said.

The resolution was drafted by Governors: Taylor Richmond, Ryan Quinn, Molly Casto, Molly Wilson, Kate Bostic and Student Health Chairs: Jon Bond and Sawan Prabhu.

Gov. Abby Sobonya spoke out against the drafting of the resolution, saying that it was drafted before the BOG had time to hear student concerns or ways to protect the smokers' rights.

"There are 70 percent (of students) who don't smoke. I have not gotten a policy that I could read through on what's going to happen to those 30 percent who do," Sobonya said. "What if a student smokes on the Health Sciences Campus? We can't expect students to just quit smoking. We need to put more time on this."

Gov. Kyle Hess agreed with Sobonya and said SGA should not support something without seeing all facts.

"A bank would not approve a $20 million building loan without seeing the architecture," he said. "The goal is to eliminate smoking use in West Virginia. (Smokers) are going to congregate elsewhere."

Hess also stated SGA should not just pass a resolution without asking what the University would do to aid smokers in quitting.

"I'm for the smoking ban – not the resolution," he said. "I want the University to guarantee that they will solve the problem. All we can do is erase it for now."

Wilson reminded the governors a resolution was not a policy but a document outlining what SGA supports.

Bond said a smoking ban on campus was not a new issue when asked why the BOG should care about smoking.

"This has been a student issue since the first cloud of smoke in a student's face," Bond said. "How long does it take this University to act? It goes with the saying, ‘put off today what you can do tomorrow.' This University lags behind so much, so let's take care of this today."

Chris Walters, senior international studies major, said the BOG should consider suggesting the creation of zones where individuals can smoke on campus to the resolution. He also said the governors should have spent more time on the resolution.

"You're taking away the right of smokers," he said. "By saying, ‘we support the bill' you are saying we support a ban overall. You are putting forth something you don't know anything about yet."

SGA will vote on the resolution at next Wednesday's meeting.

Gov. Paul Kast and Mountaineer Maniacs Director Cassie Werner drafted a resolution to promise support for WVU head men's basketball coach Bob Huggins' Coaches vs. Cancer initiative.

The project is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. It aims to empower basketball coaches, their teams and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer, according to its Web site.

The resolution unanimously passed.