Smoking bill vetoed

IUSA executives vetoed a smoking bill minutes after it narrowly passed the IUSA congress in a vote Thursday.\nAfter controversy and confusion, the "Courtesy Bill" passed by two votes. But before the meeting's end, IUSA execs vetoed the bill. \nThis bill asked that signs reading, "Please be courteous of others, do not smoke near entrance," be placed outside of the entrances to academic buildings and the Indiana Memorial Union. It also said that the IUSA director of Health and Safety would provide necessary funds and take steps to see the recommendation carried out. \nIn response to a bill presented at last month's Congress meeting, which would have created a 30-foot non-smoking perimeter around all academic buildings, this bill was sent back to committee to be amended. The amendment asked that "Please no smoking under awning" signs be placed around the exterior awnings of Ballantine Hall. The bill encouraged students to not smoke around entrances to other academic buildings. \nSophomore Allison DiMichele, an off-campus senator, sponsored the most recent bill. She said this bill was meant to make students more aware of the concerns of others and to even the playing field. "It's about being courteous," DiMichelle said.\nIUSA director of Health and Safety Brian Daviduke, co-sponsor of the bill, previously surveyed students about their opinions. Daviduke, a junior, found that feelings are split almost 50-50. \n"I don't feel the student opinion is overwhelmingly for this," said junior Aimee Dawson, representative from the College of Arts and Science.\nSome IUSA members were concerned about the rights of smokers.\nJames Motter, representative from the Kelley School of Business, said smokers' rights were not being restricted by this bill. "Your rights extend so far as they don't hinder the rights of others," Motter, a senior, said.\nThe vote was split 18-18, but one Congress member protested because he had asked to change his vote from a "no" to a "yes" while voting was still going on. This changed the vote to 19-17 in favor of the resolution. \nIUSA executive members voiced their opinion before the congress session was adjourned. IUSA senior President Jake Oakman, spoke for the four member executive branch. The executives discussed the bill and decided to veto it. \n"This sets bad precedence," Oakman, a senior, said. He said that not enough work had been done on this bill. "There were a lot of holes in it," Oakman said.\nVice President for Congress Chris Smith, a senior, said, "I thought some more research had to be done."\nOther IUSA News\n• IUSA also passed a resolution recommending to the Bloomington Faculty Council that the fall semester calendar be changed. The resolution comes from a proposal by the IU Calendar Committee. Their proposal asks that beginning with the 2004-2005 school year classes begin a week earlier so that students can have Labor Day and the entire week of Thanksgiving off. \nThis, members said, would help to even out the two semesters; currently, the fall semester is three school days shorter than the spring semester. Fall semester is 15 weeks and two days long. But students pay for a full 16 weeks of classes. \n"This is a recommendation that the Calendar Committee is taking to the BFC," Smith said. \nSome IUSA members asked why a fall break was not approved. Smith said that the committee was opposed to a fall break because it would break up science labs. Science labs sections meet throughout the week.\n"This is a good idea because it will make students psychologically adjusted to a fall break," said junior Chuck Kuntz, representative from COAS. "In five or 10 years, let's hope they move this to the middle of the semester."\n• Michael McRobbie, vice president of Information and Technology, spoke with the group about his job with IU. McRobbie runs technological services for the Bloomington campus and all seven affiliate campuses.\nCurrently, his office is working on implementing a five-year strategic plan. The plan, which is about halfway accomplished, aims at making IU a leader in information technology. McRobbie also hopes to make all university operations web-enabled in order to save students time. Also, he hopes that some day technological renovations to the classroom would be accomplished. \nMcRobbie voiced concerns over possible upcoming budget cuts by the governor. McRobbie said such cuts would seriously hinder and actually stop the implementation of this five-year plan. \nMcRobbie asked that students take the time to contact legislators to voice concern over such cuts. "This issue is of more importance and more immediate to you then a faculty member about to retire," McRobbie said.\n•The election code for the upcoming IUSA election was voted upon. This year's election will be conducted entirely online. No paper ballots will be available. Campaigning begins Jan. 14, and the election will take place Feb. 26 and 27.