Resolution for healthier campus seems mute

Earlier this semester, the SGA passed the “Promoting a Healthier Campus” resolution during a meeting. The resolution would prevent students from smoking on campus after a six month “soft launch” term and would take full effect beginning in January. 

However, the Arkansas legislature just passed the Arkansas Clean Air on Campus Act, which will prohibit smoking o any campus of a state supported institution of higher in education in Arkansas beginning August 1, 2010.

Since the SGA proposal would go into effect more than a year before the state law’s restrictions. Under the SGA resolution, smoking would still be permitted on Greek, staff and faculty housing and athletics’ facilities.

But the state law would prohibit smoking on ANY part of campus.

The SGA resolution still needs approval from Chancellor Robert Potts and the Arkansas State University Board of Trustees.

So what are some of your thoughts? If public schools in Arkansas are entirely smoke free, will that effect your decision to attend school in Arkansas or look elsewhere? How important is being able to smoke on campus to you?

Read Herald Opinion Editor Meghan Allen’s story here.

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Ryan Beaird is elected for second term

 

Photo by Ashley Helliwell

For the first time in ASU history, a student has been elected twice for SGA president. So congratulations to Ryan Beaird and Kimberly Winchester for defeating Lark Little and Adrian Everett by 256 votes.

According to Beaird, it was one of the largest voter turnouts in school history as well with roughly 1400 people voting in this year’s election.

“I am glad to have the opportunity again. I loved it so much this year and I couldn’t imagine my senior year without being president,” Beaird told the Herald.

Winchester said that she has never felt so excited about anything in my life. Winchester is a 19-year-old chemistry major from Jonesboro.

“Ryan is a really great guy and has been a wonderful president for SGA,” Winchester told the Herald. “I think he has done a wonderful things and he will continue to do great things for the us at Arkansas State.”

The newly elected officers will be sworn in on April 14.

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Don’t forget to vote

The SGA elections will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday in the Student Union and I want to encourage everyone to be sure to vote.

This is the first time, in a long time, that there have been three parties running for SGA president and vice president. Usually, there are only two teams running.

This is also the first year that an incumbent is running for reelection. Current SGA president Ryan Beaird is running for a second term and has chosen sophomore senato Kimberly Winchester as his running mate.

Brandon Allen, a junior marketing and international business major from Dumas and Kiel Smith, a junior accounting major from Forrest City are also running for election.

Lark Little, a senior nursing major from Jonesboro and Adrian Everett, a sophomore chemistry major from Mcgehee represent the final team running for the election.

Representatives of the teams were on campus today, campaigning for votes. If you walked behind the Wilson building, you surely could not have missed them. I think I was stopped nearly five times.

SAB Multicultural enrichment director Sharnea Diggs was one of the people who I spoke with during one of my trips through. She was proudly supporting Little/Everett campaign and when I asked her why should I vote for them over the Beaird/Winchester group she said ‘experience.’

“I believe [Winchester] is just not qualified enough to become a vice-president,” Diggs said. “Her biggest attribute or achievement is that she has attended every SGA meeting.”

Which is apparently true.

According to the Facebook group, “Elect Beaird*Winchester as SGA President and VP: STILL Serving By Example,” it reads:

“Kimberly has shown perfect attendance to every SGA event and meeting, volunteered for extra duties and responsibilities, and has gone above and beyond every expectation laid upon her.” 

While these are great qualities to have, I don’t think it qualifies someone for a demanding job like the SGA vice presidency. Experience is a heavy factor and I believe Ryan might have a choose a poor running mate for his reelection.

I have not completely made up my mind who I will vote for in the upcoming election. I want what is best for the campus. I am graduating soon but I want to leave knowing that the ASU campus is good hands. What do you think? Who are you going to vote for and why?

Be sure to pick Thursday’s issue of the Herald and be sure to vote on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Student Union.

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Should ASU be a smoke – free campus?

I just completed our ninth issue for the Herald and I think this was issue was probably one of the easiest to put together. (1/4 size ADs help.) I think we have some pretty interesting stories for this issue.

Probably the biggest one is our lead story. The SGA approved a resolution that would make ASU campus smoke – free. Although the resolution still needs several more steps before it will be official, it is definitely already an issue that is buzzing around campus.

So what do you think? Should ASU be a smoke – free campus? Leave your comment below.

There are already 260 completely smoke – free campuses, according to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation. The University of Arkansas is one of those campuses.

Personally, I don’t mind the smoking. I second hand smoke two packs a day.

For our student speak, junior communication disorder major Charlissa Johnson from Crosset, said, “It is a good idea, but I think it is goingto be really difficult to establish and enforce the policy of non-smoking.”

Which is an interesting point. There really will be no way to enforce the rule.

SGA Public Relations Director Kyle Fulton said that the most that they might do is ask you to put out your cigarette. There has been no word on whether or not they would issue citations.

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