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The usage of electronic cigarettes and hookah pens, better known as vapes, has been banned on Kennesaw State University property for quite some time now.
The policy — effective since Oct. 1, 2014 — has many broad goals, mainly to create a smoke- and tobacco-free environment on campus, according to KSU’s website.
This policy is enforced by the KSU Police Department with a three-step approach. The first two times someone is seen consuming tobacco, officers are instructed to let them off with a warning. After the third offense, the student or staff member will be ticketed $25.
On the surface, the smoking policy appears to be pretty sound. According to the American Cancer Society, 6 million people die every year because of tobacco usage and exposure. Several colleges across the U.S. have banned smoking from campuses in what seems to be an effort to lower that statistic.
These findings, however, were heavily based on cigarette usage and did not include vaping.
According to tobacco.org, there are around 600 ingredients in cigarettes and more than 4,000 chemicals released in cigarette smoke. Some of the ingredients include ammonia (a toxic substance found in household cleaners), butanol (a form of alcohol that can be used as engine fuel), and Thiazole (a compound made of nitrogen and sulfur).
Many people who vape choose to do so because they believe it is safer. These beliefs are questionable, however. Little research has been done to prove this assumption.
According to Web MD, some brands may contain chemicals like formaldehyde and diacetyl, which can cause cancer and lung disease.
The problem with these findings is that they vary from brand to brand. We all know cigarettes are harmful, but we don’t know which vape juice brands may contain harmful chemicals.
It would appear that colleges like KSU have opted to take the road of caution and not risk the potential negative effects of vaping. This still leaves a fundamental question: what about the students?
Some people may wonder if the issue of vape usage is one students should even be concerned about. I believe the average college student may have more of a reason to care than middle-aged adults, because according to a 2014 study conducted by the Centers of Disease Prevention and Control, the highest users of electronic cigarettes were ages 18 to 24.
There is no doubt that the issue of nicotine consumption is a concern for many students, but is banning all nicotine products the answer?
It is understandable why vaping would be banned in buildings, as the billowing clouds of vapor would cause a huge distraction and may upset some peoples’ allergies.
Vaping in public spaces may cause secondhand smoke and allergic reactions, but vaping outside would not be a distraction for students.
For these reasons, I understand why vaping might be banned in public spaces but not private spaces.
The ban on the use of vapes includes student dorms. How could students vaping in their own rooms and cars possibly affect anyone else’s health concerns or distract from a learning environment?
In my opinion, it simply can’t. While KSU may be concerned about the health of its students, policing what they can do in their own homes seems a little extreme. I believe this policy needs updating.
While tobacco policy may be directed at protecting the health of students, I believe we should also protect their rights. Students above 18 have a legal right to purchase tobacco products, and should be allowed to vape in their private spaces. While I don’t think vaping should be encouraged, I do believe it should be allowed in dorms. After all, many freshman are forced to live on campus because they can’t commute.
