A local university doesn't plan on completely banning the use of tobacco on its campus - at least for now.
Wheeling Jesuit University spokeswoman Maureen Zambito said her school currently is not pursuing a policy to expand its tobacco policy on campus. The issue came about after it was revealed during a recent Wheeling-Ohio County Board of Health meeting that the health department had sent letters to three local colleges, encouraging administrators to pursue imposing campus-wide no tobacco use policies. This would include chewing tobacco and cigarettes.
Officials at both West Virginia Northern Community College and West Liberty University said they already were exploring such a ban prior to being contacted by the health department.
Zambito this week provided a statement in response to inquiries about her school's plans:
''Wheeling Jesuit University is always looking at expanding and improving our policies and programs, but we have nothing further to report at this point and time,'' said Jim Holt, vice president for Institutional Advancement.
WJU's campus currently is smoke-free except for limited designated areas, Holt noted.
Administrator Howard Gamble said the health department is willing to help any business or organization aiming to expand their tobacco policies.
In Ohio County, the board of health already prohibits smoking inside buildings and bars. The board had been considering expanding its own rule to include spaces currently exempt - video gambling parlors, video gambling areas inside bars, and table and video gambling areas inside Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. However, after much public debate, the board said there was not enough public support to expand the rule, ultimately tabling it indefinitely.
''We continue to be in contact with both WVNCC and WLU concerning their efforts to go tobacco free. In the near future we will again reach out to WJU to discuss going tobacco free and the assistance we can provide them at that time. The (health department) works with all three institutions on a variety of issues and will continue to be a partner with them in regards to health and public health issues,'' Gamble said.
According to the American Lung Association, 258 colleges and universities across the nation have gone tobacco free, including the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Schools in Ohio that are tobacco free include: Ashland University, Hocking College and Mount Vernon Nazarene University.