ASNIC plans on putting forth a 100 percent tobacco-free campus policy. The proposed policy will go to the college senate in December. While there are signs for no smoking across campus, ASNIC President Peter Soderberg says that instead of it being a guideline, NIC will enforce no smoking and ask tobacco users to step off campus.
In 2011 The Sentinel reported that the initial guideline’s purpose was to reduce harm from second-hand smoke, provide an environment that encouraged students to be tobacco-free and establish a college culture of wellness. This was the purpose Soderberg brought up.
In 2017 NIC received a grant from the Truth Initiative to develop a fully tobacco-free policy.
“We’re really wanting students to be aware that NIC is not in support of smoking,” Soderberg said. “We’re trying to make it an inconvenience.”
Soderberg explained that ASNIC wants students to be aware that smoking is unhealthy and that making them go out of their way to smoke may lead to them deciding to not smoke at all.
“There are other places they can do it,” said second-year student Callen Logue. “Keep it to yourself.”
He added that he and an ASNIC senator went around campus last semester to pick up cigarette butts, and found an amount that filled six large sandwich bags primarily around the children’s center, Lee Kildow Hall and the SUB. They viewed it as an increasing problem across campus in need of a more serious approach.
Third-year student Keaton Marschmann said that he would prefer smokers to have a designated area on campus out of the way. The dike road, which is city property, will be a potential place for smokers to go.
ASNIC sent out a campus-wide survey on Nov. 28 asking students and faculty their thoughts on making NIC completely tobacco-free. The survey will remain open until Dec. 5.
“Tell them that ASNIC wants their voice,” Soderberg said of concerned students. “We want to hear from them, we want to represent students fairly.”
