Say No to Tobacco Free at UTA

As the real developers of the path forward for this University, I call on you the Students, Faculty, and Staff to sign this petition to immediately suspend the Tobacco Free Campus policy in favor of a more equally fair policy in which we shall have equal treatment toward both tobacco and non-tobacco users.

I say we together in one voice declare that we shall assert our rights and demand accountability and resolve. Please sign this petition if you wish to voice your right to suspend the Tobacco Free Campus policy in favor of a policy that provides equal treatment to all affected.

I further recommend we implement the following requirements 5 - 9 for the new policy:

1 .Immediate suspension of the Tobacco Free Campus policy.

2. The Immediate suspension shall be in effect for a period of 30 days, so that the University President may communicate to the Student Congress to prepare a campus wide referendum on the adoption of a strict smoking policy that does not include zero tobacco use on campus.

3. The Student Congress will have a period of 90 days to prepare, inform, and conduct this referendum on a new and equal smoking policy for the campus.

4. The University President's office will need to formulate your own smoking policy to communicate to the Student Congress so that you will not have an absent voice in this procedure.

5. Any new policy that is to be voted on, shall include at least 10 properly constructed and clearly marked “Designated Smoking Areas” so that all made be given both clear warning and clear notice that these areas will contain either cigarette/cigar/pipe smoke or all at any given time.

6. Location of these “Designated Smoking Areas” will be to the University’s discretion with these exceptions outside of the 10 that will be on the main campus:

A. Each building of Student dwelling that is provided by the University will have at least 1 “Designated Smoking Area”.

B. The Fort Worth Campus will have at least 1 “Designated Smoking Area”, unless the city of Fort Worth has a smoking ordinance that this policy would violate.

C. In regards to any sports complex or event venue that is controlled by the University will have at least 1 “Designated Smoking Area”.

7. Locations for the 10 that will be on the main campus:

A. At least 6 “Designated Smoking Areas” will be on the East Campus that is the portion of the Main Campus that is east of Cooper Street.

B. At least 2 of these “Designated Smoking Areas” will be on the West Campus the portion of the Main Campus that is west of Cooper Street.

C. Concerning “Greek Row”, with the exception to 6(A) the University may designate a location that is conveniently located to accommodate those on “Greek Row” in cooperation with the students who reside there in.

D. In regards to “Greek Row” or any other location, should the University deem that according to requirement (8) that “Greek Row” or other locations are not suitable, requirement (8) may be relaxed to 30 feet as long as the University can show good cause.

8. These “Designated Smoking Areas” will not be constructed within 60 feet of any building’s entrance threshold. Each of these “Designated Smoking Areas” will have at least 2 cigarette butt receptacles to extinguish and properly dispose of cigarette butts to help keep our campus staying beautiful. They will be at least 8 x 8 foot area to accommodate those students who will use them.

9. From the time of adoption of the new policy to the planning, implementation, and completed construction of the first 3 “Designated Smoking Areas” will not exceed 10 months.

Now these requirements are my proposals to the student body and are not binding to the true nature of the intent of this petition. I simply wanted to offer a solution with my opposition to the current problem, which is the Tobacco Free Campus policy.

*** For Students, Faculty, and Staff Please use only your UTA email address for this petition please, Thank you.***