The Director of the Department of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Diane Walker visited the student government meeting Thursday Oct. 18 to update members about the smoking situation on campus.
“A little over six years ago the smoking policy on campus was changed, it now reads that there is no smoking allowed on campus except in designated areas, Walker said. “[In the] fall of 2011 the police along with patrollers began enforcing this rule.”
On the KSU Environmental Health and Safety Department website designated smoking areas include: Convocation & Kennesaw Hall, Burruss Building, Student Center, Willingham Hall, Legacy Gazebo, Wilson & Music, Athletic Fields, KSU Center, Campus Services, Chastain Pointe, Science & Clendenin and Houses on Frey Lake Rd. However, the exact dimensions of smoking areas are not specified.
There are several designated smoking areas around campus, and students are required to be in that area if they want to smoke. Students will receive a warning the first time they smoke in an undesignated area.
“They [police] inform them about the policy, require them to extinguish all tobacco products and refer the student violators to my office because this is also a violation of the student code of conduct,” Walker said.
First time offenders will also receive a warning letter, second time offenders are required to take 10-15 hours of mandatory community service and will have a hold put of their registration. A hold on registration prevents the student from signing up for classes at Kennesaw State.
“Since fall of 2011, 294 people have gotten that letter [first offense warning letter] from me. Thirteen of them have been second offenses,” Walker said. “I think this is working because not that many people are getting second offenses.”
The smoking policy hasn’t been perfect, though, as several students reported having trouble identifying the boundaries of the designated smoking area.
Walker said of the complaint, “there’s nothing laid out that says how far they extend from the place where you smoke. It’s just a judgment call between the patrollers and the students as to what’s part of the [designated] smoking area.” Incident reporting relating to environmental health and safety can be reported on the Environmental Health and Safety Department website at kennesaw.edu/ehs/index.html.
In other SGA news, the Big Event on Friday, Oct. 12 brought 147 student volunteers. Letters to veterans were sent to Q100 radio’s “The Bert Show’s Big Thank You” to be organized for the troops. Sandwiches and toiletries were sent to the Salvation Army to distribute them to the homeless.
