School Board Requests Review Of Smoking Law

In a five-to-two vote, the Ann Arbor Board of Education last night approved a resolution urging the Michigan Association of School Boards to review and perhaps redefine the present state smoking code. The resolution proposed by Trustee Charles Good - a nonsmoker - noted that schools are the principal enforcers of the 54-year-old law which prohibits the use and possession of tobáceo by minors. In seeking to get the school policy in line with other community institutions, Good said he feit enforcing the law may diminish the schools' effectiveness in other discipline areas. Prior to the introduction of the resolution, student representatives from Pioneer and H u r on High Schools brought the smoking issue to the attention of the board. Speaking from the audience, Huron High Student Council President John Minor said the council has voted in favor of lifting the smoking ban. Delegates from Pioneer said their executive board has formulated a resolution opposing the smoking law to be presented to the Michigan Association of Student Councils this month. The present school policy is to suspend students for smoking or carrying tobáceo in, school. Responding to Trustee Cecil Warner's question on whether ■ the faculty and administration actually enforce the policy, Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. said it is being enforced - at considerable expense. "And," Westerman said, "we will continue to make that investment." The board, despite urging the law be reviewed, stressed that the action should not be interpreted as a move toward new lenient policy. "Cigarettes in a shirt pocket, or a cigarette in the hand are reasons for suspension," said Westerman. Trustee Joseph T. A. Lee stressed his opposition to the resolution. Good agreed the resolution should have included a "whereas" urging other methods - education - rather than suspension in deterring smoking among minors. Lee added that student involvement was good, but he questioned falling in line with institutions not enforcing a law. He said the action should be reversed and enforcement encouraged. Joining Lee in opposition to the resolution was Trustee Cecil Warner, who punctuated his remarks with his cigarette. Discussion preceding the vote centered also on the health aspect, the right for persons to decide for themselves whether or not they wish to smoke, and terms of social responsibility. Voting in favor of the resolution were Trustees Good, Lockett, Bishop, H. Johnson and Heusel.