CASE 1 - No Smoking Policy Change at ISU

       

Effective on September 1, 2012 Idaho State University became a smoking-free campus. “Smoking is prohibited on all property wholly owned, leased or operated by Idaho State University” was the official ruling after extensive research done by the university. After surveying faculty, staff and students developed and conducted by Galen Louis, assistant professor and director of ISU's Public Health Program, it was concluded that only 8.8 percent of ISU's community smokes daily. 60.7 percent of survey respondents were in favor of ISU becoming completely smoke free. However, the change for a smoke free campus was led by the Associated Students of ISU which is the student government on campus.  “The ball started rolling when ASISU passed a resolution last fall recommending that the campus go smoke free,” said Pat Terrell, vice president of student affairs . According to Shaun Stokes, immediate past president of ASISU, “This is the culmination of a resolution adopted almost 11 months ago by ASISU urging ISU to go totally smoke free.”

        In a letter submitted to the editor ASISU Senator Bobby Miklos, a senior in the College of Engineering commented on his disproval of the decision to ban smoking on campus based on the criteria of making it a healthy campus. He continued to explain that though he did not  find the methods taken to be perfect he commented, “While I do not agree with the campus smoking ban I do feel it’s a step in the right direction.” This is a valuable piece of information. Though students do not agree with all the decision being made they believe that the changes are positive.

       

        When compared to the Idaho State Journal the effect to the Pocatello community is much the same. Major Brian Blad stated, “I think there are more positives than negatives to a smoking ban, but some people will feel that we’re over-stepping our boundaries,” The article continues to make mention that official feel like there would be opposition but there are other communities in the area that support such bans including Eagle and Idaho Falls, Idaho . The tone of the ISJ report is one that neutrally suggests that such changes at the university are changing the broader community of Pocatello.

       

Conclusion:

In a comparison between the two news medias and interviews it can be determined that the smoking ban was driven by students in the ASISU governing body and after that it was supported by nearly sixty-one percent of facility, staff, and students. Though this policy was met with opposition general consensus is that this change is a positive change and has affected student opinion of the university.