It may be relaxing, look cool or be socially acceptable, but after October 1 the use of tobacco products will be banned at Ouachita. That’s right, no smoking – this includeshookah – chewing tobacco or using any other tobacco product will be allowed on campus grounds due to a resolution passed by the Board of Trustees over the summer.“There’s overwhelming evidence of harm to both the tobacco user and potentially to others around,”said Dr. Keldon Henley, vice president of student servicesand dean of students. “Across the state and nation, colleges and universities are banning tobacco primarily because of the health effects.” The process has taken two years to complete and has included student surveys, and input from numerous campus groups. “Before the recommendation was madeto the board, we consulted with, and got support from, the Administrative Council, the University Committee, the faculty and Student Senate,” said Dr. Brett Powell, vice president for administrative services. The Student Senate conducted a poll in 2008 and weighed in last year with a pro- “We were approached by administration to take a stand on the tobacco free campus,” said Jacob Lively, president of Student Senate. “During my freshman year we did a survey that revealed that the majority of students were for a tobacco free campus.” There were 539 students who responded to the survey, 58 percent supported banning cigarettes, and a similar number –57 percent – were in favor of prohibiting smokeless tobacco as well. “For those students, faculty and staff who want to quit smoking or smokeless tobacco, the university will provide resources to help them be successful in thateffort,” Powell said. Nurse Molly Wallace said that even if you believe you are only hurting yourself, smoke in your clothing and hair can affect those around you. People with asthma may be more susceptible to the effects of secondhand smoke and can experience difficulty breathing if they are around smokers. Tobacco users may also catch more colds and sniffles as it may weaken your immune system. And the long term effects can be severe. “It depends on how long you smoke and how heavy you smoke – the long term effects are devastating,” Wallace said. “All the cancers are the main ones, but you seem to have the coughs and colds more [if you smoke].”In 2006, the Center for Disease Control reported that approximately 371 billion cigarettes were consumed in the U.S., costing $83.7 billion of the $90.7 billion spent on tobacco products as a whole. Tobacco usage costs the U.S. an estimated $193 billion a year. This cost includes the $97 billion lost due to premature death and $96 billion in smoking-related healthcare cost. The American Cancer Society lists lung cancer as the most preventable cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and it has been linked to tobacco use. Nearly one in five deaths in the United States is a result of tobacco use. According to the Mayo Clinic, hookah use is linked to the same health hazards as regular smoking and tobacco use. Popular culture argues that the presence of water in hookah pipes limits its toxicity; however this has not been medically proven.Smokers also have more difficulty securing affordable health and life insurance, as well as higher costs to rent a home or apartment. Until the ban goes into effect the use of tobacco products is permitted on campus, provided the smoker is not within 50 feet of an entrance to a building. Henley said they are considering a fine for students who are caught using tobacco on campus with more severe consequences for repeat violators. Wallace said quitting smoking is not easy, but is possible with help.“There are different ways [to quit], but it’s not easy,” she said. “It’s better to do it now.”
For more information about tobacco usage visit:
•http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hookah/
AN01265
•http://www.stampoutsmoking.com
•http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/
TobaccoCancer/tobacco-related-cancer-fact-sheet
By ANANDA BOARDMAN
News/Features Co-Editor
Photo by SARAH SPARKS
