The SGA's Student Life Committee that is set on Monday to propose a piece of legislation which will alter Seton Hall's smoking policy on Monday, Feb. 11.
If approved, the legislation will create designated smoking areas around campus, according to the Student Life Committee Chairman Wesley Satterwhite said
"Students are tired of walking to class and having someone blowing smoke next to them the whole way," Satterwhite said.
According to Satterwhite, the goal of the initiative is to restrict smoking to the benches scattered around campus.
The initiative is being led by Satterwhite with assistance from fellow Student Life Committee members Brent Warn, Ryan Kane, Aliza Rizvi and Aki Patel.
According to Kane, many students choose not to smoke and yet are forced into contact with secondhand smoke.
"The point of initiatives like this is to make it easier for students to live together," Kane said.
SGA President Joe Donato said he does not have any issues with the proposal itself. He is simply concerned about its implementation.
"We're not going to be in the business of searching out students and punishing them for smoking," Donato said.
"It has always been the goal of the SGA and the Student Life Committee to foster a more considerate environment," he said. "We understand that many students choose to smoke, and we simply ask that they are considerate to those who choose not to."
One student said he disapproves on principle, arguing that the rule would impinge on people's right to smoke.
"If this rule were to pass, I would purposely take up smoking just to ignore it and show its ridiculousness," sophomore Joe Colby said.
The measure will be introduced and discussed at this week's SGA General Assembly meeting. A final vote will be held during the following meeting.
Satterwhite said that while the proposal has been well received within the SGA, he is nervous about its popularity among the student body.
Joseph Grogan can be reached at joseph.grogan@student.shu.edu.
