Tobacco Documents Online

Smoking ban forum works to clear the air Smokers, non-smokers debate pros : nct lIy James UW-Ch,~ncellor Donna E. Shalala's pro~sal for a complele ban on smoking ~ithin all UW-Madison buildin2s inflamed tempers at a public forum Thu~day night, Michael Williamson, s~ecial assistant to Shalala, pre- sided over the forum in Shalala's absence and disclosed Shalala's position. "Ril3ht nOw, lhere are i 8 building5 that have no smoking allowed at all," Williamson said. "Shalala proposes a compl~te ban on smoking inside all buildings.". Willi~m~on said Shala]a will gladly accept feedback lht fo~ of wrillen comments up to November Shalala hopes enough recommendations for the proposal will have been received in order to cr~le a policy regarding lhe sm~ing ban by December I, according William~on. Only a handful of people were pre~enl at the forum expre% lheir opposilion to lht proposal. Janel Kelly, a UW ~ludtnl and TA, said the ban would infrlng~ u~n individuals' dgh~ because it would cover lho~e living in ~gle HeiEhts. Mo~eove[, Kelly ~aid, "'Occa~ionally ptopl~ ¢ig~l~ll~ I~ ¢onlin~e ID do their jobs or else t~ey worl; without being subjected to lh~ constant inte~ptions of having ~ leave to smoke." "All smokers a~k," Kelly said, "is that other people be ~vin Hagg~r, another sludenl opposing lhe ~an at the fomm agreed. "The smoking ban doesn't allow for smoking students to Mud~ without inte~ptions of concentration." I laggar, ahmg wilh ,,ix t~lhcr',, ha.~ ct~llt'¢lcd It ~1 ~ignalurt'~ in oppt~ition It~ the ban. I lagg~r fa~or~ allemallVe~ ~UC[I ~s "'sepa[alely vented rooms and air cleaners.'" Carol Thompson. a unive~ity xludenl and a member of the Smokers" Rights Aclion Group, said she does not find tobacco bagful and feels the ban needles,dy discrimi against all smoke~. "Seeond-handsmokei~ equaltoeommon in-house air," ~ompson said. "1 am amazed and ~isgusted that people are goin~ to verbally abuse me of being zn addict. I feel like Fm in Nazi Seve~l UW-Madison faculty members were also favor of ~he smoking ban. Patrick McBride,employed by the UW-Medical School and by SI. Ma~'s Hospital. said he has pe~onally seen people zeeutely affected by ~obaceo smoke in the envi- ronment. Dr. Michael Fiore, a physician in the Department of Medicine at the University Medical School, said the smoking ban has been pro~sed for two reasons. "h is now established that smoking is not only bagful to the smoker, but also to the non-smoker in the envi- ronment," Fiore said. "I agree that the campus should adopt the ban inside [~l-buildings}. but respect the rights of smokers to go outside and smoke." Glen ~kman. a member of the ~V-Aeademic Staff, said cigarette smoke has entered his office through a ~nt and ha~ caused him physleal ha~. "I get migraine headaches." Eckman said.. "which leaves BAN See page 2 cons ot- proposal Herald photo by Milch Rosin UW student and TA, Janel Kelly, argued against a smoking ban at an open forum Thursday night, claiming the ban would infringe individual rights. "- ' ' ' ' " ;;Z" ' .. :.:.~ :..: :,.,:,....:..,~,....': .'. ': ..'. -

Tl28750685