Not in ‘Our House’
Lighting up a cigarette on campus, or any other Georgia Southern property, has been banned in order to comply with the Tobacco-Free Policy mandated by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG). Smoking is now prohibited both indoors and outside. This includes all University buildings, facilities, stadiums, arenas, parking lots, greenways, the golf course, and even inside personal vehicles located on campus.
“Georgia Southern University is one of the most beautiful campuses in all of higher education. We pride ourselves on being a progressive institution that’s rich in tradition and welcoming and comfortable for our students, faculty, staff and guests,” said University President Brooks A. Keel, Ph.D. “After careful consideration, and consultation with the University System of Georgia, as of August 1, 2014, Georgia Southern University is a tobacco-free campus. The commitment to a tobacco-free campus is one we all share together, whether you are a tobacco user or not.”
Why go tobacco-free?
The purpose of the policy (University System of Georgia’s policy 9.1.7) is to create a health-supporting community for everyone, tobacco-users and non-users alike. The new policy also supports the right of all people on university system campuses to breathe smoke-free air. The simple reason for our policy is respect for each other and the environment. We hope that smokers who choose to continue smoking will respect our smoke-free environment out of concern for their fellow campus community members.
“It is well documented that tobacco use is directly associated with multiple, significant medical problems leading to increased risk of illness and death, not only for the tobacco user, but also for those exposed to second-hand smoke,” says Brian M. DeLoach, M.D., medical director of Georgia Southern University Student Health Services. “I am thrilled the University and the Board of Regents made the decision for our campuses to go ‘tobacco-free.’ Doing so, in my mind, shows our commitment to protecting the health of all persons on our campuses, including those persons who don’t smoke but who may be exposed to smoke by those who do.”
What are considered “Tobacco Products?”
Besides cigarettes, the USG policy also prohibits all other tobacco-related products including cigars, pipes, hookahs, e-cigarettes, vaporizers, chewing tobacco, and any and all forms of smokeless tobacco. As of August 1, anyone on the Georgia Southern campus—students, faculty, staff, alumni, contractors and their subcontractors, miscellaneous employees, event spectators, concertgoers, and any other visitors or guests—must abide by the statewide-mandated USG policy. Anyone caught violating the new rule will be asked to discard the tobacco product immediately or be required to leave the campus grounds.
“As medical professionals, the staff at Health Services recognizes that nicotine is a highly addictive substance for most people, which makes quitting smoking or other forms of tobacco very difficult,” says DeLoach. “We want students who have trouble quitting to know that we are available to provide medical assistance with quitting, if desired.”
What areas of campus are prohibited?
The use of tobacco is prohibited in any area of the campus including the following:
- All Georgia Southern Campus Buildings and Grounds
- All Georgia Southern Parking Lots
- Administration Building
- All Georgia Southern Residence Halls and Apartments
- Campus Pedestrium
- Campus Bus Stops
- Allen E. Paulson Stadium and Surrounding Grounds
- Georgia Southern Golf Course
- Coastal Georgia Center (Savannah)
- Herty (Savannah)
“We all know that change is not always easy,” said Keel. “But this change in policy at Georgia Southern reinforces our commitment to preserving and improving the health and comfort of our students, faculty, staff and guests… Let’s make Georgia Southern an even better environment for learning, working and recreation by adhering to a new tobacco-free campus.”
If you have any questions or comments regarding the new Tobacco-Free campus initiative, please send email to tobaccofree@georgiasouthern.edu or visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu/tobaccofree.
For more information on the USG Tobacco-Free initiative please visit USG.edu/tobaccofree.