The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says e-cigarettes are unsafe for kids, teens and young adults.
The Arizona Board of Regents is scheduled to consider tightening restrictions for electronic cigarettes on Arizona campuses Nov. 21.
One regent is pushing for an all-inclusive ban, and University of Arizona students say they have mixed feelings.
Over 2,000 cases of vaping-related lung injuries have been recorded in the U.S., and regent Fred DuVal said in a news release that he believes it’s the board’s responsibility to raise risk awareness among Arizona students.
He is proposing prohibiting both using and selling tobacco products at all three state universities. All tobacco products are already banned at the University of Arizona. The proposed new policy would include electronic cigarettes in the prohibition at all university properties.
Oscar Rodriguez, a UA sophomore, said Wednesday he supports the proposal.
“I feel it's a good decision to take. It may upset some students but definitely it's something that’s going to have positive implications and consequences," Rodriguez said. "It's for the greater good, I think."
But some students said they think it would do more harm than good. Junior Danae Delgado argues vaping can help people trying to overcome addictions.
“It’s a very wide and accepting campus — as long as you’re not doing it in anybody’s face and you’re respectful about it, I don’t see why it should be banned," she said.
Other students say the proposed ban might not have an impact, as students will find a way to vape if they want to, regardless of the policy.
Sasha Hartzell is a University of Arizona journalism student and intern at Arizona Public Media.
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