Student senate failed to come to a general consensus regarding several bills up for debate. And while we would normally condemn this as yet another instance in which Student Government fails to accomplish anything, we actually commend them.
That’s because the three bills up for debate were all related to Healthy Carolina’s controversial and poorly-thought-out Tobacco Free USC initiative. The initiative would effectively ban all forms of tobacco — cigarettes, dip, hookah, etc. — from USC’s large and expansive campus, and it would pigeonhole not only students but faculty and our already taxed police to enforce it.
If passed, one of the bills would have supported certain punishments if someone were caught using tobacco products, while the other two bills would have supported banning tobacco from USC within a certain time frame or from all hours of the days.
But if they’re debating even allowing tobacco on campus during parts of the day, then what is the point of such an initiative? If this is all being done in support of the student body’s “health and wellness,” fast food and soda junkies should prepare to get their fix off campus and not at the numerous unhealthy venues on university grounds.
On the bright side, SG’s recent inaction highlights the often forgotten fact that they do represent the diverse and diverging opinions of the student body. And just like the student body at large, the Tobacco Free USC initiative is an issue even SG members feel conflicted about.
At the end of the day, USC may go ahead and pass Tobacco Free USC, but at least with SG’s recent votes, the voice of the student body was heard. Hopefully, university administrators are listening.