You are on page 1of 5

1

Date: March 1, 2017


To: Steven R. Angle PhD.
Chancellor
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

From: Bailey Datz


Student, Sophomore
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Subject: Proposal to make The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga a smoke free campus

Purpose

The purpose of my proposal is to highlight the negative effects of second-hand smoke and to
prove that students, faculty, and staff of the university can all benefit from establishing a smoke
free campus.
Summary

When asked to identify a problem within my community I knew instantly what to address. The
issue was so obvious I could almost smell it. The it is the issue of secondhand smoke on
campus. The is little to no restrictions on The University of Tennessee at Chattanoogas campus
on smoking. What rules are in place do not take into consideration the right of the nonsmokers,
or the effects smokers are having on them.

From the information already gathered from sources like the Center for Disease Control and the
American Cancer Society there is no denying that secondhand smoke has an impact on peoples
bodies. The information already gather would make a huge impact on meeting with Chancellor,
Steven R. Angle to make a change in UTCs smoking policy and become a smoke free campus.
If the Chancellor approves this proposal, then I would form a student organization with a passion
form bettering campus and student health. This organization would conduct a survey to better
understand the student body make up and how to address the issue of banning smoking. This
survey would aid in updating the online smoking policy, how to inform students via email of a
policy change, and help spark ideas for informational flyers. The budget proposed for this project
is $100 for printing cost for the flyers.

The process of updating the policy and getting the word out would be a fast process. The health
of students is important, so the overall project would take less than a month to complete. I,
Bailey Datz, would be heading the project. With my experience just as a student as well as a
student involved in outside organizations I have the skill set to make this initiative successful.

Introduction

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga promotes itself as an academic safe haven and a
home away from home, but falls short when it comes to protecting its students from the harmful
effects of secondhand smoke. The overall number of people a day who are exposed to second-
hand smoke by walking through campus or passing areas where smokers commonly gather is
2

unknown. Ads and warnings about the negative effects of smoking are plastered in schools, on
social media, on television, and even the cigarette packets themselves. Smokers cannot claim
they do not know the risks they are taking every time they light up, but the nonsmokers should
not be punished for someone elses bad habit.

While UTC does have a smoking policy it only goes as far as to prohibit smoking in university
buildings and within twenty-five feet of windows, doorways, and ventilation systems of
university buildings. What is lacking is the protection of students outside the classroom and the
enforcement of the already in place smoking policy. If UTC were to become a smoke free
campus the student body, faculty, and staff would benefit.
This initiative would protect the rights of nonsmokers, and the primary audience of the research
would be university officials. I will conduct research on the effects of second-hand smoke on the
body and provide evidence that universities have already banned smoking.

Annotated Bibliography

Health Risks of Secondhand Smoke. American Cancer Society, The American Cancer
Society, 13 Nov. 2015, www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/tobacco-and-
cancer/secondhand-smoke.html. Accessed 28 Feb. 2017.

Health Risks of Secondhand Smoke defines the different types of secondhand


smoke, addresses why it is a problem, highlights the cancers and other diseases
that secondhand smoke can lead to, discusses concerns about smoke odors, and
what can be done about secondhand smoke. The American Cancer Society is to
provide the public with accurate information and research about cancer which
makes it a reliable source based on their reputation for research accuracy. The
goal of this article is similar to that of the Center for Disease Controls article, to
provide reliable health information to the public, but it focuses more on the cancer
causing effects of secondhand smoke. The American Cancer Society article would
be a major part in proving a problem exists and that it important enough to
addressotherwise it could have deadly consequences.

List of Smoke-Free Campuses. List of Smoke Free Campuses, Tobacco Free College Campus
Initiative, www.tobaccofreecampus.org/list-of-smokefree-campuses/. Accessed 28 Feb.
2017.

List of Smoke-Free Campuses provides list on how many college have gone
smoke or tobacco free based on American Nonsmokers Rights Foundations
research. The Tobacco Free College Campus Initiative offers their criteria to be
listed as a tobacco or smoke free campus, the schools policy, and within the list
given it specifies to what extent the campus limits or prohibits use of tobacco
products. The article is different from the other three sources because it is focused
on what has been done rather than what should be done, and the opinions of
students on tobacco use policies. This list and information is important in
highlighting how other colleges are beginning to recognize nonsmokers rights. It
3

could also help in establishing programs or policies that have been successful at
other campus.

Reed, Megan. If You Want a Smoke, Chances Are Youll Be Having It off Campus. USA
Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 29 Aug. 2015,
college.usatoday.com/2015/08/28/campuses-go-smoke-free/. Accessed 28 Feb. 2017.
Reeds article gives an overview of some campuses efforts to become smoke
free. It focuses on student reactions to such restrictions and the feasibility of the
smoke bans. Highlighting the issue that regulating smoke free campuses is the
responsibility of faculty, staff, and students. USA Today College is reliable
because it offers internal links as well as naming its sources. The article also
provides the credentials of the student author. Reeds target audience is college
students. This article is different because rather than looking at numbers and
statistics it also takes into consideration the opinions of students both against and
for the banning of smoking on campus. If You Want a Smoke, Chances Are
Youll Be Having It Off Campus is important to take into consideration in the
proposal because it offers a human aspect to the numbers. It puts voices and faces
behind the numbers.

Secondhand Smoke (SHS) Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 21 Feb. 2017,
www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/.
Accessed 28 Feb. 2017.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) article offers facts about secondhand
smoke, defines it, identifies who and how secondhand smoke harms, patterns of
exposure, differences in exposure, and a what you can do section. The Center of
Disease Control is a national organization committed to protecting Americans
from health and safety threats making it a reliable source. The target audience for
the article is the general public. The CDC article has a similar goal of the
American Cancer Society article, both of which offer reliable health information
to the American public. Secondhand Smoke Facts is relevant to the proposal in
question because it provides a definition for secondhand smoke as well as the
different effects it may have on the body.

Proposed Program

Task 1. Forming a student organization


This student organization would be vital in proving the issue of secondhand smoking exists on
UTCs campus.

Task 2. Student survey

The organization will seek to understand how many students have encountered secondhand
smoke on campus by tabling in the University Center and surveying students. Some of the
questions they would ask would be pertaining to how long they have attended UTC, whether
4

they are a smoker, and how frequently do they encounter smoke. The survey will be designed to
do relatively quickly to cater to students fast paced moving through the University Center. The
results from the questions will be based on a fill in the blank section while the majority of the
questions will be multiple choice. With this information and the information gathered from the
online sources the organization will be better equipped on how to serve the student bodys needs.

Task 3. Updating the tobacco policy online

After gathering information from the survey the organization would begin to make changes to
the tobacco policy available online. The policy changes would be made based on what consensus
the Chancellor and organization came to. The information will be presented in a way in which
those that would access the website could quickly understand that smoking is not allowed on
campus.

Task 4. Informing the student body of policy change

The best way to inform students of the initial policy change is via email. The organization would
work closely with Chuck Cantrell to draft an email that displays the confidential results of the
survey, statement that smoking is banned, explanation as to why smoking is banned, and a
section that informs students that they also have to play a part in stopping smoking and how they
can do that.

Task 5. Designing and posting flyers

The flyers would stand as a reminder to students that only they make UTC a smoke free campus,
whether that be through not smoking themselves or putting a stop to someone who is. The
organization would make these flyers on a computer. The flyers would be in bright eye catching
colors. They would be posted on campus near entries and exits, in the University Center, in
dormitories, and all lecture halls.

Qualifications

IBailey Datzwill be leading this project. As a sophomore in the College of Business at UTC
and an active member of Kappa Delta Sorority, I am not only an academic but a leader.

Schedule

Table 1 is a schedule of the tasks we would complete for the proposed program.

Task Date(s) of Tasks Expected Time Frame


Task 1. Forming a student March 27, 2017 On going
organization
Task 2. Student survey April 6, 2017 and April 10, 4 hours per tabling session
2017
Task 3. Updating the tobacco April 14, 2017 1-2 hour(s)
policy online
5

Task 4. Informing the student April 14, 2017 and August 11, 30 minutes
body of policy change 2017
Task 5. Designing and posting April 19, 2017 2-4 hours
flyers
Table 1: Schedule of Project Tasks
Budget
Table 2 is a schedule of the itemized budget for the proposed program.
Task Description Cost
Task 1. Forming a student n/a
organization $0
Task 2. Student survey n/a
$0
Task 3. Updating the tobacco n/a
$0
policy online
Task 4. Informing the student n/a
$0
body of policy change
Task 5. Designing and posting Printing cost
$100
flyers
Total: $100
Table 2: Budget Including Description Per Task

You might also like