University campus going tobacco-free also bans vaping

TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M University-Texarkana banned vaping and the use of e-cigarettes on campus Wednesday morning after a directive issued by A&M System Chancellor John Sharp.

People who violate the ban will be fined by campus police.

“This is obviously something new and a major change for all of our Eagle family,” said Vicki Melde, chief of staff for A&M-Texarkana President Emily Cutrer, referring to the university’s mascot. “When a rule is put in place — in this case, a directive from the chancellor — it applies across the board to everybody. Our university police have begun talking to people and giving verbal warnings. We want people to understand it does include parking lots and areas on campus people might not think about.”

The chancellor sent a memo to all the system’s campus presidents Tuesday stating his concern about the health risks of the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products, and directed them to ban such products on campuses as soon as possible.

“Smoking is banned in most places in the System already. But the ban on vaping is to be mandatory and expanded to every inch of the Texas A&M System,” Sharp stated in the memo. “This health threat is serious enough that I want to see the ban include every building, outside space, parking lot, garage and laboratory within the Texas A&M System. The ban also should extend to every facility of our $950 million research enterprise and all System properties in the 250 Texas counties in which the Texas A&M System has a presence.”

Melde said the directive came immediately after Cutrer sent a notification to A&M-Texarkana students, faculty and staff members that they were implementing a tobacco-free policy to begin Jan. 1.

“We went through several organizations, the faculty senate, staff council and student government association and got their feedback on the tobacco-free policy, and it was very positive,” she said. “Even though we know it will be difficult on some folks, we think the best thing for the health of everyone is to be tobacco free.”

Melde said officials are working to make resources available to people who wish to quit using such products and give them plenty of time to plan ahead, but the vaping ban is in place now. Smoking is currently allowed on the campus in designated areas, but that will end Jan. 1.

“We know change is hard, and we don’t want this to be viewed as a negative,” she said.

Melde also said the chancellor directed the ban on vaping because research shows that serious illness can occur immediately after the firsttime use of an e-cigarette or vaping device.

“E-cigarettes and vaping can immediately put somebody in danger of losing their life,” she said. “We just really want to stress how strongly the chancellor felt and how we agreed that if there are ways we can prevent someone from being hospitalized or a death, we will do them. We feel like it’s the right thing to do.”