Formal Report Proposal – Glen Kavaliunas

To:                       Dr. Erika Paterson – Professor English 301

From:                  Glen Kavaliunas – author of proposal

Date:                   June 19, 2020

Subject:              Proposal for moving to a tobacco free campus at North Island College (N.I.C.) to minimize the impact of second-hand smoke on the                                 children at Beaufort Children’s Society Daycare facility, and N.I.C. students.

 

Introduction

Over the past four years I have observed, both as a student of N.I.C. and as a parent of a child in the Beaufort Daycare facility, that the designated smoking area for students from the Tyee building at N.I.C. is dangerously close to the daycare’s outdoor play space. This same designated smoking area is also directly outside of the bookstore and the cafeteria. Throughout campus there is a designated smoking area outside of every main entrance. While they are the legally designated distance from the entrances, it only takes a little wind to carry to smoke to the doorway.

 

Statement of Problem

Having a designated smoking area adjacent to the play area of children ages twelve months to three years old is a major health concern. The young lungs of the children are exposed to second-hand smoke daily. On many occasions the staff of Beaufort Children’s Society have complained about the smoke blowing over to the play yard, but nothing has been done.

 

A second related problem is this same designated smoking area for the Tyee building forces any student who needs to buy textbooks or food to walk through the smoke to get to their destination. This is consistent across campus at the main entrance of all buildings.

 

With the health-related conditions and problems associated with the use of Tobacco (including smoking, chewing and vaping), it is irresponsible for a college to support this unhealthy habit in their students. By having a designated smoking area, N.I.C. is supporting the exposure of innocent children to this behavior, as well as second-hand smoke. Other college students are also being exposed to second-hand smoke. A student should not have to choose between inhaling second-hand smoke and an education.

 

Proposed Audience

Th audience for my formal proposal will be Amanda Peters – Executive Coordinator of Beaufort Children’s Society, Laurie Tulloch – Faculty Chair – Department of Early Childhood Care, John Bowman – president of North Island College, and Echo Hope – Comox Valley Director of North Island College Student Union. These individuals represent the groups who can make the decision to become a tobacco free campus. Amanda Peters and Laurie Tulloch have specific interest in the Beaufort Children’s Society Daycare facility’s proximity to the smoking areas. John Bowman, as president of N.I.C has final say in all matters regarding N.I.C. Comox Valley campus and student health. Echo Hope is the student representative at N.I.C and would be essential in delivering the message to students and gathering student support.

 

Proposed Solution

One possible solution would be to move the smoking area to the other side of building and away from the main entrance. This would mean smoking, or inhaling second-hand smoke, would once again be a choice for students. Moving the designated smoking area away from the daycare would also reduce the children’s exposure to second-hand smoke.

 

Although this would be an improvement, the real solution would be for North Island College to become a tobacco free campus.

 

Scope

To assess the feasibility of moving to a smoke free college campus, the following questions will guide my research:

• What are the rights of non-smoking students and their unwelcome exposure to second-hand smoke?
• What responsibility does N.I.C. have for the healthy and safety of its students?
• How does N.I.C.’s support of the unhealthy habit associated with tobacco use affect students?
• What smoking cessation programs are available to N.I.C. students?
• How does the N.I.C. student society medical coverage support smoking cessation?
• How does second-hand smoke affect young children below the age of three year?
• How can a smoke free campus help to reduce tobacco use among N.I.C. students?
• How often do students use tobacco due to peer pressure or to fit in with peers?
• How have other campuses gone smoke free?
• What has been the feedback from students at other campuses that have gone smoke free?

 

Methods

My primary data sources will include consultations with Amanda Peters – Executive Coordinator of Beaufort Children’s Society, Laurie Tulloch – Faculty Chair – Department of Early Childhood Care, John Bowman – president of North Island College, and Echo Hope – Comox Valley Director of North Island College Student Union. I will also explore the appetite for North Island College to become a tobacco free campus, as the smoke is not health for any student. I will round out my primary research with objective observations and surveys to current North Island College students.

 

Secondary sources will include publications on the effects of second-hand smoke on young children, and a review of North Island College’s smoking policy. I will also research the Tobacco Free Campus movement.

 

My Qualifications

As a student at North Island College and a parent of a child at Beaufort Child Care facility, I have seen the issue from both perspectives. I am a non-smoker who has all my classes in the Tyee building, and I do not appreciate being forced to inhale second-hand smoke in order to attend my classes. More challenging for me personally is exposing my young daughter to second-hand smoke in her outdoor play area at daycare and having her witness this unhealthy activity of college students.

 

Conclusion

Clearly, action is needed both for the safety of the children attending Beaufort Children Society and for the health of my fellow students at N.I.C. By addressing the issue with students, North Island College staff, and Beaufort Children Society staff I can determine the feasibility of moving to a tobacco free campus. With your approval I will begin research at once.