Campus Reform: Middle Tennessee State University

Middle Tennessee State University announced that their campus will be "Tobacco-Free" starting July 1st.  The ban restricts the use of students and visitors from using any form of tobacco product on campus property.

Products that will be prohibited are, but not limited to, "...cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco and snuff, as well as smokeless electronic cigarettes and other similar devices." Students are also not permitted to smoke in their private vehicles -- while idle -- on campus property.

Tennessee law prohibits smoking tobacco products inside any state owned, or operated, building, but it does allow tobacco use outside of buildings.  The university's old policy did not allow smoking within 20 feet from entrances or pathways.

In the announcement, MTSU's President states that, "We at MTSU are not alone in making such a move. More than 400 colleges and universities across the nation are completely smoke-free on their campuses."  As more college campuses move to a tobacco-free campus, outraged students are protesting with "Smoke Outs."

At the University of Kentucky, UK Students for Liberty -- a conservative group on campus -- protested the day the ban was implemented.  Group leaders invited students to protest at the school plaza by smoking cigarettes to show their disapproval to the Administration.  Local and state news covered the "Smoke Out" and it was mentioned in an article on TIME Magazine.

Questions still remain on MTSU's new tobacco policy.  Will the administration use tuition money to create a task force strictly for this ban?  Will students be fined or given a citation for breaking the new policy?

With tuition hikes and budget cuts, students are tired of wasteful spending on ridiculous projects.  It is up to conservative students to combat leftist abuses against their peers' rights on campus.  Contact your Regional Field Coordinator today to learn how you can fight back against liberal abuses on your campus!