Check Out the Photo of the Week! Page 2 March 26, 2014 VOLUME 29 NO.6 Visit online at www.collegiannews.com
THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE STUDENTS SINCE 1987
University System of Georgia Tobacco Free
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Georgia Board of Regents Reach Decision to Ban all Tobacco Products on all their Properties By Jonique Keys Collegian Staff eginning Oct. 1 Georgia Public Universities and Colleges will have a no-tobacco policy in place for all property owned by the University System of Georgia (USG). The Board of Regents (BOR) reached a decision March 19 that all employees, students, contractors, subcontractors and visitors must comply. However, this ban adds to some of the universities who already have a no-smoking policy in place. According to the USG press release the Vice Chancellor of Human Resources said, “Our aim with this policy is to preserve and
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improve the health, comfort and environment of employees and any persons occupying USG facilities." GPC currently has specific distances for smoking away from its buildings and also designated areas, but now the entire campus come Oct. 1 will be smoke free. According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, nationally, there are more than 1,100 colleges and universities with smoke-free campuses and 811 of those ban all tobacco products. GPC student Andrew Myers said the ban makes him feel “naked.” “With this change, I will struggle a little more with stress,” said Myers. Smoking contributes to 480,000
deaths each year in the United States, including 42,000 deaths from secondhand smoke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is now the law, so no matter how unfair it may seem, it must be followed. GPC students Leslie Johnson and Ashleigh Austin said that the ban didn’t affect them at all. In fact they didn’t care. Those who violate the ban will be punished under the student code of conduct and visitors will be asked to leave. “It’s a real hindrance for people who smoke,” said GPC student Jarrell McKenna. “We aren’t hurting anyone, it doesn’t bother people that much anyways. There is no
point.” Sorry all tobacco users, this means it will now be illegal to smoke anywhere on campus starting Oct.1. To view the entire USG press release visit http://www.usg.edu/ news/release/board_of_regents_ adopts_tobacco_smoke_free_campus_policy or scan the code below.
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