E-cigarettes aren’t allowed in Ohio University’s laboratories, but they might be allowed in classrooms, depending on the professor.
The university has yet to take a stance on the issue but will decide as part of the tobacco-free implementation policy, which will phase out tobacco products within three years.
“We’ve heard of students and faculty members using e-cigarettes in class and right now there are no restrictions with using them in OU’s policy, but there hasn’t been much talk about it,” said Judy Piercy, interim ombudsman who chairs the implementation committee.
The team, comprising 15 university representatives, began writing a plan in October that will be presented to Ryan Lombardi, vice president for Student Affairs, by the end of the month, Piercy said.
“Drinking, eating and therefore certainly e-cigs are not allowed in chemistry labs,” said Carolyn Khurshid, the department administrator of chemistry and biochemistry. “That’s a given in any chemistry lab, be it teaching or research.”
Khurshid has tried e-cigarettes but said she was unimpressed. She’s a self-proclaimed “vaper” — named for the vapors inhaled in a similar nicotine delivery system to e-cigs — and promotes both vaping and e-cigs.
The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate e-cigs, Piercy said.
“Some people will argue that vaping and e-cigs are ‘dangerous’ — I’ve yet to see them prove it or provide any source for their arguments,” Khurshid said. “It seems to be mostly their opinions.”
Union Street Market, 26 W. Union St., sells e-cigs to anyone 18 years and older.
The market carries e-cig brands Blu and V2, both in menthol and tobacco flavors, at around $8.
“We don’t sell many e-cigs to students,” said Jack Byrne, a senior studying political science and economics and part-time worker at Union Street Market. “We’re not as popular as other places that sell other flavors.”
Byrne said the market first started carrying e-cigarettes about eight or nine months ago.
“We are looking at both sides,” Piercy said, “but we also promote smoking cessation.”
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This article originally appeared under the headline "OU e-cig policy undecided"
