2008 Woodie Awards
Smoking areas are lost in red tape
Jessica Summe
Issue date: 3/17/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
"Nobody's called me out on it," said Doug Pierce, a sociology senior who smokes cigarettes. "But I don't live here, I don't do a lot here except for school, and they were always pushing us away [from the doors]."
Ordinance number 447, which effects JSU students by making smokers stand 10 feet away from the entrance to a public building, was passed by the Jacksonville City Council Feb. 14, 2005, and put into effect this last Valentine's Day. Many smoking students, like Shannon Dawson and Shannon Parnell, aren't too fond of the law.
"It's a pain in the arse," said Dawson, a junior. "At Stone Center, the ashtrays are still next to the door instead of farther back. You have to break the ordinance to extinguish your cigarette."
"I don't think anyone's enforcing it, to be honest with you," said Parnell. "Half the cops smoke…do you really think they're going to enforce that?"
Both Dawson and Parnell are right…the outdoor ashtrays at many JSU buildings are inside the ten-foot 'no smoking' areas and no tickets have been issued by the UPD to students for breaking the ordinance.
When UPD was approached with these complaints, the response was immediate.
"The university is going to have to move the receptacles outside the ten-foot area, and they haven't yet," said Corporal Neil Fetner of the UPD. "That's why UPD is not currently enforcing the no smoking area per se. Even we still have our ashtrays right outside the door."
Fetner was not sure who would be responsible for moving the ashtrays and designating a smoking area for JSU students. The ashtrays are cleaned and maintained by Building Services.
"In fact, let's call him while you're here," said Fetner, picking up the phone.
A few calls later, Fetner had officially brought Ordinance 447 to the attention of the University Administrative Council, who will review the ordinance on April 3.
"I'm not sure what they'll do with it, but we'll have an answer soon," said Fetner.
Ordinance number 447, which effects JSU students by making smokers stand 10 feet away from the entrance to a public building, was passed by the Jacksonville City Council Feb. 14, 2005, and put into effect this last Valentine's Day. Many smoking students, like Shannon Dawson and Shannon Parnell, aren't too fond of the law.
"It's a pain in the arse," said Dawson, a junior. "At Stone Center, the ashtrays are still next to the door instead of farther back. You have to break the ordinance to extinguish your cigarette."
"I don't think anyone's enforcing it, to be honest with you," said Parnell. "Half the cops smoke…do you really think they're going to enforce that?"
Both Dawson and Parnell are right…the outdoor ashtrays at many JSU buildings are inside the ten-foot 'no smoking' areas and no tickets have been issued by the UPD to students for breaking the ordinance.
When UPD was approached with these complaints, the response was immediate.
"The university is going to have to move the receptacles outside the ten-foot area, and they haven't yet," said Corporal Neil Fetner of the UPD. "That's why UPD is not currently enforcing the no smoking area per se. Even we still have our ashtrays right outside the door."
Fetner was not sure who would be responsible for moving the ashtrays and designating a smoking area for JSU students. The ashtrays are cleaned and maintained by Building Services.
"In fact, let's call him while you're here," said Fetner, picking up the phone.
A few calls later, Fetner had officially brought Ordinance 447 to the attention of the University Administrative Council, who will review the ordinance on April 3.
"I'm not sure what they'll do with it, but we'll have an answer soon," said Fetner.