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The Tobacco-Free Campus Committee has said that it wants student input on the proposed tobacco ban, but has scheduled a student forum on Friday at 8:30 a.m.
The meeting time selected does not seem like a neutral time and was not planned around students’ schedules.
It is another example of the committee’s failure to engage students either in favor of, or opposed to, the ban.
While students will be affected by the ban, they have little-to-no say in any of the decisions.
Had the committee genuinely wanted student input it would have selected a meeting time better suited for students. It would appear that the time chosen is an easy way to avoid student opposition to the committee’s agenda. At best, the meeting time is an oversight that shows the committee’s lack of concern for getting students’ opinions.
If the committee wants input, it needs to reach out to the students instead of expecting the students to come to them. A student poll would be an easy way to find the opinions of UMaine students on this measure.
Whether or not the ban has benefits, student outreach on this subject has been lacking.
While there is an issue with the time selected, we do not believe it is an entirely valid excuse for students to stay in bed. If students are interested in giving their input on the ban, they should be present at the forum to voice their opinions.
Bangor Daily News