Staff Council discusses smoking, beautification issues

Staff Council members heard presentations by two guest speakers regarding smoking and beautification issues at the council's regular meeting April 4.

Lindsay Keffer, University Union associate director and member of the University Smoking Committee, spoke to the council about smoking outside university buildings and a suggestion made at a recent President's Sack Lunch that the university consider banning all smoking on campus. Keffer said the Texas Woman's University campus was made smoke-free until enforcement became a problem. He said the UNT smoking committee has decided not to broach the "smoke-free" possibility.

He said UNT's smoking policy designates several smoke-free buildings, and smokers may go outside the building entrances to smoke. The committee decided that each building representative will establish standards regarding smoking areas outside the building, so policies regarding where smokers may smoke will vary from building to building.

Staff Council chair Elisabeth Warren suggested council members ask the staff members they represent for suggestions and for volunteers to address the issue with a council group.

Lanse Fullinwider, grounds and waste services manager, addressed the council about campus beautification issues. Litter is increasing on campus, he said. Several council members offered suggestions for ways to improve campus appearance, from improving and promoting programs to recycle, to posting signs asking people to walk on the sidewalk and not the grass, to establishing a "Keep UNT Beautiful" campaign. Several council members volunteered to work on a program to improve the campus' appearance.

The council approved a resolution commending members of the Constitution and By Laws Committee for their work creating the council's governing code. The by laws are posted on the UNT Staff Council web site (www.unt.edu/staffcouncil), in addition to agenda items, minutes and other information.

BY MICHELLE HALE mhale@unt.edu

Other web references

• www.unt.edu/staffcouncil

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT inaugurates 13th president
• Texas Legislature approves bill creating UNT-Dallas
• Community leaders discuss education, workforce issues
• Spring graduation is May 12
• UNT to help improve Internet2
• Faculty, staff recognized at Honors Day celebration
• UNT researcher to conduct time-of-day testing on schizophrenia patients
• Rancher offers a new field of dreams for stargazers

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