Enforcing the current smoking policy is the general consensus of Student Senate.

At Wednesday night’s meeting a resolution not supporting a campus-wide smoking ban was passed 17-2-8. The resolution also reiterates that the administration needs to protect students’ rights and enforce current regulations.

The current campus smoking policy only allows smoking in designated areas across campus that can be located on the Eastern Web site.

Most Student Senate members shunned the idea of a smoke free campus.

“This is something they don’t want,” said Student Senate member Jeff Lange. “Send the right message.”

Students questioned on a campus-wide smoking ban did not support a campus-wide smoking ban by a 3 to 1 majority, said Student Senate member Tori Frazier. The students would rather see stricter enforcement of the smoking policy.

There was also a minority that did not support the resolution at all.

“I feel that banning smoking increase’s people’s health,” said Student Senate member Katie O’Grady.

People may be against the ban, but many are for it, she said.

There are no ways the current smoking policy is going to be enforced, said Student Senate member Carolyn Beck. Even with the designated smoking areas, students still walk through smoke.

“My right to breath clean air is more important than your right to have a cigarette,” she said.

There is no current plan to the smoking issue, but there will be more to the process.

“One of the big next steps in this process is going to be to talk to the administration and see what their thoughts are about the policy,” said Student Senate Speaker Kent Ohms. “Right now, their current position is the current policy, and if there is a forum that would discuss how the policy is and where it should go in the future, I think that’s a really good thing.”

The current smoking policy will be looked at by the administration, according to Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs.

“Part of what I think the students said tonight is that the current policy is not working, and there needs to be enforcement,” Nadler said. “.Overall, it’s everyone’s responsibility for their own actions as well as holding others accountable.”

In other business, a resolution was tabled recommending that the yearbook, The Warbler, should use the Panther Card pictures so all students can be in it.

Student Body President Sean Anderson said a majority of students are not in the Warbler and if they were, more students would want a copy.

Also, a proposed bylaw change allowing purchases of more than $50 for office supplies, executive tuition waivers and phone bills was tabled.

The resignation of Student Senate member Mark Bates was also presented, which he cited a lack of time and interest to “pursue other avenues.”

In recognition of Bates, the Student Senate voted against adjournment, a common joke Bates would try to pull.