University of California, San Diego
Graduate Student Association
Council Meeting #15
Monday, June 3, 2013
6:00pm, Price Center Forum
I. Call to Order [6:01pm]
II. Approval of Agenda [6:01pm]
III. Public Comment and Announcement [6:01pm]
- President: Representatives don’t transition until the new council convenes in October unless you graduate or resign. Thank you to the reps for the great year!
- Roshni Chandrashekar (Webmaster): Working with an undergraduate to redo the website. Please feel free to leave comments and feedback about the website.
- VP Internal: Thank you for coming to the GSA Community Awards, it was a great success! Congratulations to all those nominated.
IV. Special Visit: Smoke Free Policy [6:03pm]
- Assistant Vice Chancelor of Wellness, Dr. Karen Calfas
- Presented by Shanna Dayan UCSD Alumna
- Smoke and Tobacco-Free Campus begins on September 1, 2013
- Smoke free: No tobacco products (including e-cigs), neither indoors or outdoors, including parking lots, private residential space and Medical Centers
- Applies to all UC facilities owned or leased
- No sale/advertising of tobacco products in UC facilities
- Enforcement should be educational with focus on cessation resources
- Education based: direct them towards resources to quit, each campus has a different approach. Research shows, however, that these policies are ineffective if policies aren’t enforced. After some time, stronger enforcement for repeat offenders. Some other campuses are starting with stricter enforcement.
- Policy begins September 1st
- Campus discretion at how to increase enforcement (seeking input on this matter)
- AB795 code: Allows UC police to give citations to those who break the smoking policies. Currently unauthorized to do that. Not the first line approach to the new smoke-free policy.
- Rationale for Change in Tobacco/Smoking Policy
- UC is a leader in healthcare and the environment
- A 100% smoke free policy will promote a clean air environment and a healthy environment for all UC affiliates
- Having these policies is an effective way to improve health and well-being of communities
- Over 36,000 butts were collected on the UCSD campus in just 1 hour by 70 volunteers that are not biodegradable
- Smoking Stats
- #1 leading cause of preventable death in the US
- 1.2% of students reported smoking daily
- California Smokers Helpline, free and effective
- 1-800-NOBUTTS www.nobutts.org
- shown to be one of the most effective ways for people to keep smoking
- offered in 8 different languages
- Smoking cessation counseling at the Student Health Services Center
- What are the advantages of this policy if the rate of smokers is so low?
- Locations where smoking is concentrated makes second hand smoke unavoidable for those passing through
- Sociological and psychological studies show that when people see others smoking encourages them to smoke
- Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter in beach cleanups and are toxic to the environment
- Staff/Faculty have higher rates of smoking
- How does a loosely enforced policy affect residential areas?
- Some people won’t comply with the smoking policy, but the net benefit helps the campus as a whole.
- Smoking indoors is a violation of the current policy.
- Sidewalks are owned by the city, so the policy would not be enforced there.
- Policy is to assert university’s commitment to health and wellness, not necessarily to force people to quit if they don’t want to.
- What provisions will the university take towards the current tobacco waste receptacles?
- Other universities that have switched have reduced butt litter.
- Leaving ash trays up around campus give people the idea that the campus is smoking tolerant.
- What about the idea of designated smoking areas?
- It was considered, but research shows that designated smoking areas create convenience for smokers but don’t work for the long term. San Diego State had designated smoking areas, but people end up creeping out of the designated zone. Convenience of smoking areas is outweighed by smoke-free policies.
- What about those that are addicted to nicotine?
- Please send in any additional ideas on how to phase-in this new policy.
- Nicotine-replacement starter kits should be available to be sold over the counter and on campus. They are effective especially when used with a counseling method.
- What about the policy on E-cigarettes?
- They are specifically excluded because they still deliver nicotine. They are not FDA approved as a nicotine replacement therapy, and they are sold in varying doses since there is no regulation. If the FDA approves them, it could be considered to change the smoke-free policy.
- What about visitors/international students who come from countries where smoking is more prevalent?
- All relevant departments have been given a lot of notice, and there are cessation programs being tailored to international students, and resources are available in 6 languages.
- Working with the International Center and I-House on how to best assist incoming international students.
V. Financial Bylaws Vote [6:25pm]
- Approved with unanimous consent.
VI. Transportation Presentation [6:26pm]
- Transportation claims that the Bus-Zone sticker is the biggest cause of the growing deficit.
- The core issue: the funding structure is not sustainable. Funding is made up of visitor parking permits, parking permits and citations.
- New buildings on campus in 2009 took up parking spots. TPS was compensated $3000/spot, well below the market rate of $10,000/spot. Mandate from UCOP to operate as an auxiliary unit.
- Free Bus Zone stickers came as a result of a parking crisis on campus.
- Due to backlash, uncertainty, TPS is instead considering charging for the Bus Zone sticker.
- TPS proposed $30 for July-December
- Potentially $30/quarter thereafter?
- Subsidizing Bus Zone sticker is overall less costly for students
- Will charging for a bus zone sticker violate any union contracts?
- Unclear what will happen to Nobel, Arriba shuttles
- Undergrads:
- Leadership is still pursuing referendum, talks with MTS
- Unhappy about sticker charge: getting less for more $ (especially if A/N shuttles disappear)
- Increased parking rates to start July or September
- Weekends likely to still be free
- TPC is searching for other funding sources
- Transportation Resolution
- Amendments: Anywhere it says “demands” shall be changed to “requests”
- Amend to add the clause: “Be it further resolved that GSA would consider supporting a pay-for-service model of the Bus Zone as it is now, at a maximum cost of $30 per sticker per quarter for students and a higher rate for employees and strict and transparent accounting of all Bus Zone stickers, and”
- Objection. The question was called. The amendment failed.
- Amend to add the clause: “Be it further resolved that the GSA would consider supporting a revised proposal for subsidy of the full MTS Regional Pass if the subsidies were changed from 50% for the first year, 35% for the second year, and 20% for subsequent years to 65%, 55%, and 45%, respectively, and”
- The resolution was passed by consensus.
VII. Appointments [7:04pm]
- Timia Crisp to the Diversity Committee
VIII. Adjourn** [7:05pm]
**Council will stand adjourned from regular meetings until October 2013. Department representatives will remain in office, assuming they are still graduate students, until the new Council is called to order in October.
Members in attendance: Jeremy Davis-Turak, Shigeki Miyake-Stoner, Timia Crisp, Holly Dembinski, Nathanial Wood-Cohan, Brie Iatarola, Roshni Chandrashekar, Russell Reas, Rakesh Varna, Sayanan Sivaraman, Jorge Leal, Cynthia Vazquez, Rahul Kapadia, Hossein Sadeghi, Shuxia Tang, Lindsay Freeman, Darcy Barron, Alex Mendez, Nicole Henniger, John Ballard, Kathryn Furby, Danielle Ishihara, Harrison Carter, Scott Ouellette, Mat Jarvis, Emily Elizabeth Goodman, Ash Arianpour, Don Johnson, Lara Bullock