Faculty Senate Votes In Favor of Tocacco-Free Policy

Marshall University's Faculty Senate  backed the proposed tobacco-ban .

The policy is  the result of a survey conducted at the university's assessment day last year, in which 71 percent of students and 74 percent of faculty voiced support of a tobacco-free policy on campus. The proposed policy  was originally drafted by Marshall University's Student Government Association last semester and works to eliminate the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products  from campus.

After being passed by the Student Government Association, the policy moved to the floor of the Faculty Senate and passed in an overwhelmingly positive voice vote at its monthly meeting on Thursday. However, the policy did not go uncontested.

"It's about personal freedom," Jamil Chaudri, professor in the College of Information Technology and Engineering, said. "What right do we have to prevail upon others to give up a habit?"

Chaudri, a past smoker but kicked the habit over thirty years ago, voiced that he feared this policy was simply the objection of an action by a majority working to squash the actions of a minority.

There were also those who spoke in favor of the policy before the vote. "Their personal freedom ends at my nose," said psychology professor, Pamela Mulder.

Mulder voiced her support for the bill based on health issues, speaking about the dangers and concerns of second hand smoke on non-tobacco users.

The policy will now go before the Marshall University Board of Governors later this semester for a final vote.

West Virginia University passed a similar policy in Morgantown that will go into effect later this year.