EDITORIAL: Smoking policy changes require student input

The Student Government association has proposed another change to the smoking policy at the Universtiy of South Dakota. The SGA met on Nov. 15 to discuss a resolution which would ask the university to craft a new, more restrictive smoking policy.

The current policy on campus allows smoking as long as the smoker is not within 25 feet of building entryways. However, many students have observed that the policy isn’t adequately enforced, and smokers sometimes break the 25-feet rule.

Some students voiced their displeasure with the current policy in a poll conducted last year by the SGA. Sixty-two percent of students who responded to the poll said that there should be further limitations to smoking on campus than afforded by the current policy.

While the SGA was correct in asking for student input on whether the smoking policy on campus should be modified, the university and SGA must also allow students to be involved in crafting the new policy, should the new SGA resolution pass.

The resolution will not, itself, change the smoking policy on campus. The proposed resolution asks the university to develop a policy, with the coordination of the SGA, which bans the use of tobacco products on campus. The resolution also asks that parking lots be exempt from that ban.

If the SGA resolution passes, it will be up to the university to determine what the details of the policy will be, including enforcement and penalties of the policy. But the university and the SGA should not craft this new policy without presenting realistic policy options to the student body for a real vote.

After all, the SGA is proposing a change in the smoking policy on behalf of the student body — some of whom smoke and others who do not. Students have the right to voice their opinion on regulations that will directly affect them.

There are multiple smoking policy changes that could take effect. The university could simply decide to enforce the current rules more vigorously, ban smoking outside of designated smoking areas or ban all smoking on campus. The university should develop such policy suggestions and allow students to vote on them.

If the SGA resolution passes, the students should be presented with a poll with clearly-stated, not vague policy suggestions. The students don’t have to be the only ones who decide what the policy should be, but they should be afforded a chance to have their say.