The chancellor’s cabinet approved a preliminary smoking ban for the UNO library’s underpass walkway on Nov. 30.
In October, student government asked UNO students three questions about a possible smoking ban. All three designated specific areas on campus where the ban would be in effect. Of the choices, a ban on the upper level of the library’s south entrance garnered the most support, receiving 71 percent of the voters’ approval.
“It had been a platform campaign issue for me from the beginning,” said President/Regent Steve Massara about UNO’s anticipated smoking ban.
Massara and President/Regent-elect Alexander Williams submitted a proposal to UNO’s chancellor’s cabinet and the ban was approved.
The pilot period of the smoking ban is set to begin on Jan. 8 and will serve as a model for the rest of the semester to determine whether will continue and whether more designated non-smoking areas will be added. Proper signage and new receptacles will be in place to help students learn about the walkway ban.
Massara said that he knows there will be some backlash, but that’s expected.
“I know there will be problems, but it’s our job to address concerns from students,” Massara said. “To me, it’s a compromise. It is a semi-enclosed area. There’s been complaints [for] the last four years that I’ve been here from faculty, staff and students.”
At this time, it is unclear whether the future will bring a campus-wide ban or more designated smoking or non-smoking areas.
Interim Chancellor John Christensen thinks that the debate will continue for an unknown time.
“It seems to me not just to be a campus issue; this seems to be an issue that is being discussed in communities, about where or where not the public feels like smoking is appropriate or not appropriate. And so I would expect the campus is kind of a microcosm of the community, that those discussions will continue to take place on campus,” Christensen said.
While the trial period will determine how students react to the ban, whether it is accepted and whether it will continue, Massara thinks that the library’s underpass area needs to be smoke-free.
“Personally, and I love my cigars, but I feel smoking underneath that enclosed area is not in the best interest of the staff, faculty and students,” Massara said.
Originally written by Andrew Cumbee
