NC State’s Student Senate passed a new No Smoking Bill Wednesday that extends the ban on smoking from 25 feet away from all buildings on campus to 100 feet—but the Senate doesn’t know how it will enforce the rule.
The motion passed with a vote of 32 senators in favor and seven in opposition. But several senators raised questions about how the new regulation would be enforced. While it was determined enforcement through a fine would be impossible, some suggested the use of signs and public accountability might be the best available alternative.
Students have expressed concerns about secondhand smoke from cigarettes and vaporizers on campus. Several schools in the area, including UNC-Chapel Hill, have already set a precedent by extending their ban to 100 feet, which is the furthest North Carolina regulations will allow a ban.
“[UNC-CH] is effectively a no-smoking school now because of how their buildings are spaced, and that is what I am trying to do with this bill,” said Sen. Mick Sugar, the bill’s sponsor and a senior studying zoology. “This is a bill to promote a cleaner campus environment.”
At the meeting the Student Senate also voted on continuing to fund the new Coach’s Corner Project to help produce a statue of four distinguished NC State coaches to be placed outside a newly refurbished Reynolds Coliseum. The statue would feature Everett Case, Norman Sloan, Jim Valvano and Kay Yow.
The project’s overall budget is slated at $220,000. The additional funds would bring the Senate’s contribution total to $5,000.
“[I] think this is a waste of money,” said Sen. Jon Riggs, a member of the Government Operations Committee and a senior studying animal science.
“They can continue to raise money privately—get this out of Student Government,” said Sen. Mitch Moravec, a member of the Appropriations Committee and a senior studying psychology.
The bill was rejected with a vote of 18 in favor and 22 in opposition.
The Student Senate also unanimously elected three new assistant treasurers: Reema Thakkar, a junior studying mathematics education, Jennifer Nguyen, a freshman studying chemistry and Saishakti Reddy, a freshman studying first-year engineering.
