Efforts by the university in line with the new anti-smoking requirements from their suppliers of funds caused a controversy, which areas of UT such a policy can affect.
Cancer Prevention Resources Institute of Texas has released guidelines on February 2 by calling for all current and future research entity receiving funding from their institution to take a tobacco-free policy by March 1. UT spokeswoman Adrienne Howarth-Moore said the current policy deals only with AT smoking on campus and does not affect other forms of tobacco use.
UT has received more than $ 30 million for cancer research from the CPRIT and plans to apply for about $ 88 million next year. CPRIT was established constitutional amendment in Texas in 2007, which authorized government to put $ 3 billion for cancer research. To date, 364 grants awarded CPRIT and nearly $ 600 million in Texas, according to its officials.
Howarth-Moore said that the wording of the principles of CPRIT do you create a new tobacco policy a complicated process. She said that many professors at the university to do cancer research in places such as L. Theo Bellmont Hall, Robert Welch Hall and the main building, but the study could change places for a semester, which casts doubt on exactly where these enforcements will be done.
“We’re trying to find out what affects our campus,” Howarth-Moore said, “and how many buildings we CPRIT funded activities comes in. list continues to grow how to identify different resources.”
Howarth-Moore said she did not expect resistance from the system of UT, if the University decides to implement campus-wide ban on tobacco use or other policy changes. She said any policy adopted by the UT will not be enforced by a fine, but with education, communication and channeling resources for smoking cessation.
Politics CPRIT includes all buildings and structures, where funded research is the place to be free of tobacco, including sidewalks, parking lots, walkways, and in close proximity to parking and attached structures. This policy applies to all property owned, operated, lease, occupy or control of the UT.
Rebecca Garcia, director of prevention CPRIT, said CPRIT adopted a policy, because all tobacco products are harmful and are associated with various diseases and cancer. Garcia said about 24,000 Texans die each year from tobacco-related diseases and that tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in Texas.
“We hope that the tobacco is gone, but we understand that some may continue to use these products, and that this policy may make it more inconvenient for them,” Garcia said. “By adopting this policy, CPRIT sends a message that we want to work with organizations that share our mission and how seriously the fight against cancer as we do.”
Eric Frahm, Chairman of the Board staff, said the Council staff had originally been against the decision of the Student Government’s call for smoke-free campus in 2011 due to the restrictive nature of the proposal. Fram said employees do not have a flexible schedule that students and teachers are doing, and SG policy would be very hard to staff, some of which are only two 15-minute breaks per day.
“In the past, there were enforcement issues and why we need it and who has the right to dictate what health looks like,” Fram said. “Nowadays, it refers to sources of funding for cancer, and that changes the game plan.”
Frahm said that many members of staff still have concerns over the implementation of tobacco policies on campus. She said Council staff will work with the UT administration to find ways for the fair enforcement of tobacco policies on campus, and to ensure that the administration understands that there are people with different lifestyles.
Anthony Pekowski, radio-television movies, Sr., said he started smoking when he was 14 years and considers himself addicted to tobacco. Pekowski said he smokes between classes to help him concentrate and participate in class, and the prohibition of tobacco harms his ability to be a good student.
“I’m totally against it,” said Pekowski. “I think that coming to my right and freedom, my student and as a citizen. I will continue to smoke, even if they are to ban tobacco.”
Matt Portillo, music and rhetoric and writing and a former senior representative of the entire university, said that he was against the resolution, Student Government last year and is opposed to the ban of tobacco this year. Portillo said it was unfair to ask students and guests of the university to change their way of life while on campus.
“I think this is a very stubborn and insensitive thing to any outside organization research money to hang out in front of us and say, ‘Do you want to, but your long list of things to do to get it,” Portillo said.
