It was business as usual at the weekly Student Government Association meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Smoke.Free.SLU’s Community Outreach Chair Una Miniter and President Sarah Kuehnle, both seniors, presented the results of an online smoking survey offered to SLU students, faculty and staff. More than 1,400 participants took the survey during September, although not all of the participants responded to every question that was offered.

Since the results were revealed to be largely anti-smoking, Arts and Sciences Senator Natalie Long questioned whether they might be skewed, and if perhaps more nonsmokers took the survey. Though Kuehnle said it was possible, she also asked, “Wouldn’t a lot of smokers who feel strongly about this have participated?”

Senators also raised concerns about the fact that there didn’t always seem to be a middle ground offered on some of the questions, but rather two extremes. In addition, some questioned whether the survey could have been taken two times or more by the same person, something SGA President Andrew Clifton admitted was a possibility.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting:

 The Senate unanimously voted in favor of making Dean of Students Scott Smith the permanent moderator for SGA. The former interim-Adviser David Young will now serve as the Operations Advisor within SGA.

 The Global Medical Brigades was allocated $1,844.08 in spot-funding to finance their trip to Honduras in January. The organization will work to provide health care and promote medical sustainability in areas where there previously was none.

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The results of the Smoke.Free.SLU survey are as follows:

Q1: I feel that exposure to secondhand smoke is .
62.21% A very serious health concern
23.72% A moderate health concern
10.12% A minor health concern
3.95% Not a health concern at all
(Respondents: 1440)

Q2: Of these two statements, which of them comes closest to your personal opinion?
80.48% Statement A: Students, faculty, staff and visitors have a right to breathe clean air that is free of cigarette smoke and tobacco smoke in all outdoor areas on SLU’s campus.
19.52% Statement B: Smokers have the right to smoke wherever they want on SLU’s campus.
(Respondents: 1422)

Q3: Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: There should be specific areas on campus for smokers to go when they want to smoke.
48.88% Strongly agree
30.49% Somewhat agree
8.18% Somewhat disagree
12.45% Strongly disagree
(Respondents: 1428)

Q4: Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: An environment without cigarette or tobacco smoke would create a healthier campus for everyone.
70.78% Strongly agree
16.39% Somewhat agree
6.14% Somewhat disagree
6.69% Strongly disagree
(Respondents: 1432)

Q5: The present University policy on smoking is as follows:
Saint Louis University seeks to provide a healthy, comfortable, and productive work and educational environment for its employees, students, patients, and visitors. To further this objective, smoking is strictly prohibited within all non-residential, University owned and leased buildings, unless specifically exempted within this policy. This includes but is not necessarily limited to, restrooms, lunch/break rooms, private offices, work stations, hallways, waiting rooms, conference rooms and vestibules. In addition, smoking is prohibited on all University property at the Medical Center, both within the buildings and outside the buildings. Smoking on sidewalks within twenty feet of building entrances is prohibited near all University buildings. Smoking is also prohibited in all University vehicles.

Prior to reading this statement, how aware were you of this University policy on smoking?
24.77% Fully aware
47.88% Partially aware
27.35% Not at all aware
(Respondents: 1393)

Q6: Would you be supportive of a stricter policy that would designate smoking areas a further distance from academic, administrative and residential buildings?
73.36% Yes
26.64% No
(Respondents: 1344)

Q7: In your estimation, what percentage of SLU students smoke?
29.20% 0-20%
51.84% 21-40%
16.44% 41-60%
2.09% 61-80%
0.43% More than 80%
(Respondents: 1387)

Q8: What are your personal behaviors related to smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or other tobacco products)?
7.29% I smoke regularly (at least once per day).
7.64% I smoke occasionally (at least once per month).
18.79% I have smoked in the past, but do not now.
66.29% I have never smoked.
(Respondents: 1400)

Q9: What is your gender?
30.24% Male
69.76% Female
(Respondents: 1399)

Q10: What is your academic classification?
23.08% Freshman
10.11% Sophomore
10.25% Junior
13.55% Senior
14.70% Graduate student
7.81% Faculty
20.50% Staff
(Respondents: 1395)

Q11: What is your place of residence?
12.38% Griesedieck
7.58% Walsh
4.99% Clemens
6.99% Reinert
3.89% Fusz
0.10% Language houses
3.99% Marguerite
1.40% DeMattias
1.30% Notre Dame
7.39% Marchetti
2.40% Grand Forest
5.49% Village
12.67% Off campus (within five minutes walking distance)
29.44% Off campus (further than five minutes walking distance)
(Respondents: 1002)