No longer about tobacco

Disregard for a proper process, communication distracts from debate

Only one person — University of Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear — showed up to a public orientation for the proposed campus-wide tobacco ban last week.

The lack of attendance at this event as well as several other open forums to discuss the proposed ban during the past year has not been a result of student apathy.

Instead, murky communication, blatant disregard for university processes and a desire to force a policy that still lacks obvious support through the system are stopping open discourse on the widely debated issue.

The Tobacco Task Force was formed and began its quest for a tobacco-free campus after one university professor and her students decided they wanted to support a healthier campus. The original students — who have all since graduated — started the discussion on a policy that’s been implemented at universities across the country. However, this debate is no longer about the health and well-being of the campus community.

The Tobacco Task Force has done nothing but push un-vetted policy and prevent discussion on the issue. They insist they’ve received substantial support from UI faculty, staff and students, yet lack the evidence to back up these claims.

UI General Counsel Kent Nelson said there has been no official approval of any change to the current tobacco policy. The Faculty Senate expressed support for the ban, but never officially approved any changes.

Fewer than 10 percent of students have even been surveyed on the issue, and an even smaller percentage has expressed support for a campus-wide tobacco ban.

Despite their insistence and affinity for citing surveys done during the past three years, it is clear a full-tobacco ban has received minimal support from a too-small sample of the UI community.

A university is a place for open discourse and discussion — a place for the flow of ideas and progressive thought. Preventing discussion and involvement from important stakeholders on issues that affect the civil liberties of students, faculty and staff is a dictatorial move the Tobacco Task Force doesn’t have the right or power to make.

Members of the task force are promoting false information — stating the policy has been approved and is moving forward. They’ve not relayed any official communication with the entire student body and have not received official approval of the policy. The task force likely won’t receive approval for some time, as UI general counsel and UI President Chuck Staben review and consider the policy.

Students from the Economics and Veterans clubs have said they repeatedly tried to be involved in the discussion and development of a new policy, but until the task force reached the so-called “implementation phase,” they were shut out from any discussion on the issue.

If the task force has any desire to implement an effective policy, they will improve communication efforts, involve all members of the UI community and find ways to gather statistically significant data to develop a policy that is best for UI.

If they continue on this path of disregard for procedure, open discourse and valid supporting evidence, they will do nothing but alienate stakeholders and continue to foster an atmosphere of skepticism and disdain for policy changes that could, in the long run, benefit the university.

— KK

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