Faculty Approve E-Cigarette Rule Addition to E Book

An Exonian lounged in his room last month, playing video games with friends and puffing on an e-cigarette, making complex smoke designs, until a faculty member entered the room and announced that the student would be faced with restrictions, since the e-cigarette contained nicotine. Yet, a couple days later, after much deliberation and analysis, the student faced no punishments.“Because of the health hazard accompanying the use of tobacco, the Academy prohibits possession and use of all tobacco products,” the prohibited activities section of the E Book states. For many years, this definition seemed sufficient in outlining what Exonians could and could not do; however, after several incidents at the Academy, staff, instructors and counselors in the Health Center began noticing the E Book’s lack of clear guidelines regarding e-cigarettes and similar products. “Like the general public, we have had some students turning to e-cigarettes. Why they are turning to that, particularly, is hard to say,” health instructor Carol Cahalane said.On Monday, the deans presented an amendment to the E Book which faculty members supported unanimously, amending the aforementioned problem. The E Book now regards the possession and use of “any tobacco or nicotine products” as grounds for a Discipline Committee case.“We currently do not have a rule that deals with e-cigarettes. While it goes against the spirit of the rule, there is nothing outlawing it, thus we do not want to promote students using nicotine products or tobacco products on campus because of the health hazards and addiction rates that are associated,” Dean of Students Melissa Mischke said.An electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, is a cigarette-like mechanism that contains nicotine-based liquid, which is vaporized and breathed in, much like a classic cigarette. Since e-cigarettes do not pose many of the health problems that regular cigarettes do, they have grown in popularity all over the world, stirring controversy over their regulation in restaurants, public spaces and schools.“We know that it does not have tar in it, which is going to help with some of the risks around lung cancer and the development of emphysema,” Cahalane said. “But nicotine is a drug, and it’s the drug that keeps people going back to tobacco, and that does have its cardiovascular effects. It is going to increase your blood pressure and heart rate. Nicotine is an addictive substance, and it is like tying a leash around your neck that is going to be there for a long time.”However, the aforementioned student who was caught smoking an e-cigarette said he was smoking purely for entertainment and had no problems with dependence.“The phrase ‘e-cig’ makes it come off as an alternative to cigarettes, which are a big nicotine addiction devices, so there are a lot of connotations around it about nicotine addiction,” the anonymous student said. “But personally, and I know from most people that, e-cigs, or vapor pens, are generally not used as nicotine devices, but rather just to have fun and do smoke tricks, which is what I was using it for.”Nevertheless, faculty voted unanimously to outlaw e-cigarettes and any counterparts, an amendment that will take effect immediately. Science instructor Erik Janicki, a dorm affiliate of Cilley Hall, explained that e-cigarettes possibly threaten not only the safety of the student, but also the comfort and community of anyone nearby.“It is probably a good decision to pass the new rule on e-cigarettes. There are some unknown questions about the health risks that the vaporizable nicotine may pose,” Janicki said. “Just as we think about modelling healthy behavior in a dorm community, I certainly would not want my 14-year old son hanging out in a room where a bunch of people are using e-cigarettes, so I am in favor of [the new amendment].”“The plan will go into effect immediately, but it still needs to be publicized,” Mischke said. “We will inform advisers, who will inform the advisees about the planned changes to the E Book, and then I will write a letter to the parents explaining the reasoning behind the amendment and what it is. The online version of the E Book will also be updated, and next year the new print edition will feature the rule.”Mischke continued, noting that the modification is in fact not that innovative. “This revision is in the spirit of what Exeter does already, so I do not see the issue being controversial,” she said.To help further the change, the health education department will now include a lesson on e-cigarettes and their potential dangers during the drugs unit of the health classes for new underclassmen. This class will emphasize important facts about cigarette/e-cigarette smoking, such as the fact that cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of sickness and mortality in America.While these perils seem true, there is not abundant clear data on the effects of e-cigarettes.“There is a vapor that comes off the e-cigarette, but we have no idea how it affects surrounding people or whether any of the nicotine is airborne and therefore affecting the other people,” Cahalane said. “There are a lot of unknowns.”