I have been attending Augusta State University, Georgia Regents University, and soon to be Augusta University for quite some time now. In my years attending, I've noticed a huge change in regards to the "rules." One of the huge changes that Georgia Regents University implemented was turning the campus from a smoking campus into a tobacco-free campus.
I, personally, have a huge problem with this and it's not just because I am a smoker.
A few semesters back, a survey went out to all of the students and faculty regarding whether or not the campus should be turned into a non-smoking campus or remain the same (a smoking campus). Some of the questions were simple, for example: Would you have a problem if there were smoking areas set up around campus for people who smoke? I voted "No," I did not have a problem with that. I was actually in favor for smoking areas being set up on campus, that way, people who do not smoke would not have to inhale the second-hand smoke of the smokers. Also, some people are allergic to cigarette smoke, so I can totally understand their reason(s) for making Georgia Regents University a non-smoking campus.
But that wouldn't be fair to the smokers, would it? Back to the survey that was sent out; the faculty, staff, and students did not receive any of the results of the survey. The Georgia Regents Board voted to make GRU a non-smoking campus, and they did it without any regard to the survey that was distributed to the faculty, staff, and students of GRU. Yes, they are a part of the University System of Georgia, but they did not have to cover it up by making students and staff feel like they would be making a difference by sending out a survey.
Simiarly the Board of Regents changed the name to Georgia Regents University without regard to a survey they sent out to faculty and students. We had to choose from a list of six names for the renaming of the university, and whichever one had the most votes was what the school was going to be named. But guess what, Georgia Regents University wasn't even on the list! The fact is, the Board of Regents will implement rules for GRU no matter what the faculty and students think or believe, which is poor leadership, in my opinion.
It is stated in the student handbook that when a faculty member, student, or anyone that comes up to an individual that is smoking on campus, they must politely ask them to put out their cigarette. This has not been the case at all for me when I've been caught smoking on campus. I was on campus on Sunday afternoon in Allgood Hall when suddenly I received an important phone call. I walked out the front doors of Allgood Hall and wedged a rug underneath it so that the doors would stay open. I did this so I could easily enter the building again, and so that I could keep track of my laptop and books; I did not want them to be stolen.
As I was on the phone, a professor approached me and started yelling about me smoking on campus. Now, this was on a Sunday afternoon, and, I was on the phone. This was unprofessional and very disrespectful on his part. I told the other person on the line to please hold while I talked to the professor. He continued to yell, and complained about the doors being open. I told him my reason for leaving the doors open, and he completely ignored me and started yelling at me again, telling me to put out my cigarette. After that, he walked inside Allgood Hall, and slammed the doors in my face, making me walk all the way around to the backside of Allgood to use my student card to get inside. Now, he did not ask politely for me to put out my cigarette, and interrupted my important conversation. To me, this professor has lost all his rights for asking students and faculty members to put out their cigarettes.
Another incident I had was outside near the dumpsters of Allgood Hall. Campus police pulled up. I was with three other friends, and we quickly put out out cigarettes. One of my friends had a Vapor, which does not contain any tobacco in it at all, and she was still "vaping" on it. The campus police guard walked up to us and asked, "Have ya'll read the sign behind you?" Sure, we all have read that sign that states that this campus is a tobacco-free campus. Then he went on telling my friend to put her Vapor away, because that is considered a tobacco product, even though no tobacco is in it.
What really bothered me was that the officer said "Hanging around a dumpster isn't my idea of a good time. Let me see your badges." We all showed him our student IDs, and then he said he was giving us a warning and wouldn't "call it in." In the student handbook, there is no disciplinary action for smoking cigarettes on campus. What was he going to do? Arrest us? Arrest us for smoking cigarettes? How stupid is that?
Mind you, we (my friends and I) are all over 18, and the last time I checked, you had to be 18 years of age or over to smoke in the United States of America. This cop was just being a jerk with a badge and harassing us. Next time, I plan to report him to Public Safety. The last thing he asked us was, "Anything else I need to know about?" as if we were doing illegal drugs.
Faculty members even smoke outside near the dumpsters. It is impossible to make this campus a part of the University System of Georgia tobacco-free Campuses. Plus, it is our choice to smoke, no one else's. Yes, we know that smoking is bad for us, but it also helps us get through the day when stressful events arise.
The Board of Regents have made many changes that have affected the lifestyles and mentality of many students at GRU, with the changes and putting policies in place that hinder student freedom. It's time to take back our campus, one policy at a time, starting with designated smoking areas.
