Revised smoking ban voted down

IU Student Association representatives backed down from a proposal Thursday that would have asked for a 30-foot non-smoking perimeter around all academic buildings.\nA revision of the smoking resolution was brought before the IUSA Congress Thursday. The original resolution was first presented to IUSA two weeks ago.\nThe original resolution asked for a 30-foot non-smoking perimeter around all academic buildings. IUSA members introduced a new bill after sending the original resolution back to committee following a debate over enforcement.\nThe new bill recommended that signs reading, "Please No Smoking Under Awning" be put up at Ballantine Hall. The resolution also asked that smokers be encouraged not to block the entrances of other academic buildings.\nThat bill also failed.\nSenior Ron McFall, representative from the Kelley School of Business, helped to revise the resolution.\n"We were trying to meet in the middle somewhere," McFall said. "We wanted to do what we could and not be harsh."\nJunior Brian Daviduke, director of health and safety, surveyed students about the first bill. He found that opinion was split down the middle. Of the 580 people he interviewed, only 84 were smokers and 17 of those were in favor of the smoking perimeter.\n"This bill does a better job asking students to be courteous and not mandating it," said junior Corey Duersch, an off-campus senator.\nSome members raised concerns over constituent wants since students had not been consulted about the new resolution.\n"The least we can do is go back to our constituents and talk about this bill," said senior Willie Sutherland, senator from Read. \nThough this bill only addressed Ballantine Hall, it was looked at as a beginning step.\n"I think breaking into small steps and measures is a good thing," said senior James Motter, representative from the school of business.\nThe bill does not ask for any enforcement, but merely functions on the honor system.\n"In not making demands, what exactly does it do?" asked junior Chuck Kuntz, COAS representative. \nSince the bill calls for no enforcement, some members questioned the validity of the resolution. It was felt that once one student ignored the signs and started smoking under the awnings many more would follow.\nIUSA voted down the resolution. For the time being, smoking will not be banned from academic entrances.\nOther IUSA news\nChanges to IUSA Constitution considered\nIUSA also voted on two resolutions to change the IUSA Constitution in regards to the IUSA Supreme Court. The next IUSA election ballot will ask students to vote on whether or not to give stricter guidelines on hearings and impeachment.\nThe court did not issue a statement of opinion on these matters. \n"There is only one way to impeach someone from the Supreme Court," Sutherland said. "And that is through the Supreme Court."\nIUSA members expressed concerns about the court having too few checks on power. IUSA passed the resolutions, but this only allows these changes to be voted on in the next election. \nDaviduke said he does not have much faith in the voters making an accurate and thought-out decision.\n"If we pass it here today, it passes," Daviduke said.\nCommittee considers full week off for Thanksgiving\nThe 2003-04 school year might start a week earlier, but include more days off through the year. The Calendar Committee has proposed that classes start a week earlier in order for students to have Labor Day and the whole Thanksgiving week off. The proposal will go to the Bloomington Faculty Council, which must approve the change.\nLegal representative speaks\nJohn Irvine, who heads Student Legal Services, spoke with IUSA about his job at Thursday's meeting. Student Legal Service provides legal representation to any student on campus in need of it.\n"We serve a little less than a half of the student body in a four year period," Irvine said.\nDuring one year, the group sees about 4,000 students. \nLandlord-tenant problems are dealt with most often, along with criminal and vehicular problems. \n"We're the most famous institution in the state for landlord-tenant law at the appellate level," he said. \nThis program has on-staff professional lawyers and two and third-year law students. The interns gain trial experience and confidence in the courtroom. \nHe urged IUSA to get involved with the community in order to affect change.