Page 21 - 1987 VES Meteor

PAID Permit No. 659 Lynchburg, Va. Non-Profit Org.
_V_O_L__L_X_V_II_I_ _N_Q_ _-2--------------~V~I~R~G~I~N~IA~E~P~I~S~CO~P~A~L~S~C=H~O~O~L~.~L~Y~N~C~H~B~U~R~G~.~V~I~R~G:I:N~IA~--------------~December14,1987
• •••
ent-
by Mark Stanton
It is a well known fact that
V.E.S. has banned the use of tobacco among its students. Stu- dents who use tobacco are hav- ing a hard time adapting to the
new policy and some are quite unhappy with the penalties in- volved. There are several con- flicting opinions on this issue
from the students and teachers because while tobacco is legal at a certain age, others feel it is
behavioral, on the third offense one will receive a major, and a fourth offense may result in explusion.
Some students, obviously to- bacco users, feel that these rules are unreasonable and unfair. "The legal age in Virginia to use tobacco products is sixteen, and it seems the school is becoming
a microcosm upon its refusal to recognize state laws. I feel deprived as not only am I the legal age to use tobacco, but in being eighteen I could go to war for my country, yet I cannot chose my own habits," claims
one tobacco user.
The SchooJ!s viewpoint on this
issue remains that "any kind of addiction is detrimental to your
I
was well received by both the students and the faculty.
The first question asked "Do you feel smoking should be allowed at V.E.S.?" 80% answered yes; 20% replied no or undecided. Question number
health, " as Bo Lauder states. Mr. Lauder continued to say, "yes, you are adults, but people who dip are not adult enough to dip sanitarily." For example, non-users constantly have to put
up with those users who do not have any dippers etiquette. Con- sider the day when one might lean over the water fountain, on- ly to find a dipper has left his oral refuse in the drain, or when one picks up his Coke to take a drink, and a dipper has previously used it for his dip feces. It is situations like these that the School's new policies are trying to eliminate.
The School believes that its decision to implement harsh penalties will deter the use of
tobacco.
once or less than once a week. Many conclusions can be drawn from the information given, bas- ed on one's own personal beliefs concerning smoking. It is left up to the reader to decide how he or she will process the infor- mation which the poll offers.
There were some contrasting comments from the students on the questionaires. Although the majority of those who com- mented were opposed to the new rule, many were in favor of it. One student who answered 'no' to aU of the questions said " I feel like a hypocrite for voting rno] for #1, because I was very
against their change. But when I look at the number of people who smoke here as compared to last year, I have to agree with
the new
adults 30 or so year down the road from us and they regret dearly their addiction to mok ing, I guess it is about time we listened '' view was that •'Iryou are of age to smoke th n It i1 your rl1ht and th
new rule di1played by . Th y
offensive.
· As the rules stand
neither smoking nor dipping is permitted, and the penalties are
as follows: upon being caught a first time a student may receive five demerits, for a second of- fense the student will receive a
by Hugh Edmunds
and Campbell Hyers
There has been much con- troversy concerning Virginia Episcopal School's new smoking
policy. The new rule states that "Students are not permitted to use tobacco in any form ." This
is a peripatetic change from the old rule which enabled students of legal smoking age, who had acquired signed parental con-
sent, to smoke in a designated area. As a result of such a drastic change, the students have shown a strong desire to express their views on the sub- ject.
''nle Meteor" staff conducted a poll which enabled the stu- dents to give their views on the new pohcy. The poll, a simple
· conaiating of five yfS/oo queatJo111 and a com-
ment section ,
etchtystudenta Eachdormwu
it was on dorm tim
or when the
alloted a
IUnber ol1tudenta tn each hall
Tile
wuliven dur
lwUtoaUow
privaey poill
to ban
.....,
lA»,...._&n
The,.U
about
th
distributed to
time to amoke was over. His main and
rea1on behind the chafll wa the health rllka. Hi1 belief
newrul '1 wa1thatthe
little." H
certam number
, dependir11 on the
'
now ,
o f
" If V.E .S.,
two asked
allowed at
smoke?" 47.5% said yes and 52.5% said no. When asked "Do you smoke even though tobacco use has been banned at
of the fact that people do
but he feels that the rule will be-
V.E .S.? ",
said no. Keep in mind that 47.5%
of those polled said that they would smoke " ...if it were per- mitted at V.E .S." And yet, 45.5%
of the students polled already smoke. According to these statistics, the rule ill almost ob- solete, saving a mere 2% from smoking. Of the 80% who thought smoking should be per- mitted at VE.S., 53% smoke while 47% refrain from amok lng 37% use other forms of tobacco. All together, 87 5% of
smoking were would you
45% said yes, 55%
It is evident that in spite of the students' urge to have the rule changed, there is little possibili-
th 1tudenta polled
The la1t qufStion asked thol who either 1molce, or use other
how often it every day. 275f, UN tobacco a few a and 17 5f, It
tchool1hould not be abl
that privile1e". (SIC) Ther wer 1om m on•
tobacco
they did 10 2Uf,
tobacco.
policy .
You talk to
answered in "The Meteor's" in- terviews with housemaster Mr. Lauder and headmaster Mr. Zimmer.
•
sider changing the rule. Many students felt that the school jurisdiction had gone too far in
banning tobacco use off campus. Both Mr. Zimmer and Mr. Lauder feel that the school
should be consistent in its ideals and not allow it because of their responsibility as a school to the parents. Mr. Zimmer is aware
" I
ourselves a favor by getting the smoking into one area that could
be well monitored and that is safe, and getting it, hopefully, off the dorms" said Mr. Lauder in response to the question " What is your belief, should it be changed?" In spite of his answer, Mr. Lauder does not "condone smoking". He seemed concerned about the fact that people are smoking on dorm be- cause of the fire hazard in- volved. There was some con- tradiction between Mr. Zimmer and Mr. Lauder. Mr. Zimmer
said that even if the smoking rule were repassed, there would still be smoking on dorm
feel like we'd be
doing
U.S. POSTAGE
moke, come more effective in time.
ty of it
consider the health hazard& that do exist and the fact that the n * is there before a
rette under school
happening . On muat