Vol. 80 No. l
Lincoln,
NE 22nd
and J Streets
August 31, 1981
For the 110th time
Nelson not surprised by stnoking ban The Lincoln School Board's decision last Tuesday to enforce a student smoking ban in all district buildings and on grounds did not catch Lincoln High School Principal Sanford Nelson by surprise. Earlier in the summer, Nelson had decided to enforce the School Board's long-standing student smoking ban when school opened today. The principals at the other three public high schools, though, had said during a school board meeting this summer, that they would rather not enforce a smoking ban at their schools. However, with the School Board's decision, all four · high schools will be required to enforce the p()licy, according to Nelson.
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Guidelines Because Nelson had decided to enforce the ban before the School Board's vote, guidelines for enforcement at LHS had already been established. According to Nelson, the first time a student is caught smoking a warning will be issued and their parents will be notified. If caught a second time, a three to five day suspension will be issued. A third violation could result in suspension for the remainder of the school term. Nelson said he and the school board will be as firm and fair as possible. "If a student knows what the rules are, and they go against them, they suffer the consequences," he said, "This policy shouldn't come as much of a shock to students, especially since we've been talking about it for several years and its been in the handbook for students to read."
Reasons Nelson claimed he had reasons for his decision. HE!said smoking was not good for ones health, the junior highs had successfully taken to not smoking on school grounds, the west side of the building was unsightly to Lincoln High School grounds, and some students aren't of legal age to smoke. HE!also said if he doesn't enforce the policy, he is in violation of the Board of Education. "The school board and I have tried unsuccessfully in stopping the smoking," Nelson said, "With this policy, I have the support of parents and faculty." Although Nelson and the faculty stands behind the policy, they're not the only ones. "I've received complaints from students about students smoking in the bathrooms and the mess on the west side of the building," he said, "Several students are standing behind the policy." "I'm not telling students they can't smoke," Nelson said, "It's their own morality. I'm just saying · they can't smoke here."
Inside ... Changes reQuire cooperation, page 2. ... Fall sports .underway, page 7. ... Confused sophomores? They won't after reading Postscripts, page 8.
E.ffective today
Smoking banned
on LBS campus
by Lisa Schlieger The Lincoln School Board voted 4-2 last Tuesday to renew its ban on smoking for students in district buildings and on school grounds but allow for the use of tobacco by adults in designated areas of the building. The vote reaffirms the board's previous policy which also prohibited student smoking on school property but according to Lincoln High School Principal Sanford Nelson the board now expects the policy to be enforced by all four public high schools. The ban will eliminate all smoking on Lincoln High grounds, including the use of tobacco on the building's west side where the administration had previously allowed students to smoke. Nelson termed the decision to allow students to smoke on the west side of the building in previous years "an attempt to compromise with Lincoln Hig-h students." He reported students said they would "police" and take care of the area. He said, though, the administration soon found out it was not a satisfactory solution. He said the total ban will be strictly enforced. Nelson feels that letting students smoke would not be in accordance with
what is taught in the school's curriculum. "We teach in Health classes that smoking is bad for you, and that it does no good at all. It's also against the law until you're 18, and most high school students are not 18." Lincoln Southeast Principal Wesley Lauterbach feels the total smoking ban will be difficult to enforce. "It will be a hard one (policy)to enforce since the administration bas been lax with the policy for so long," Lauterbach said.
HE!said Southeast students had been allowed to smoke in the school's back court area without harassment. Nelson stated that the smoking policy will be enforced just as any other rule or regulation would be. "If there's a sighted infraction we will deal with that as inappropriate behavior. I wouldn't go out and search for kids smoking, but if-they are observed we will have to deal with it," said Nelson. If a student is caught smoking, or in the process of lighting a cigarette, parents will be notified, and the student placed on suspension until the parents contact the school. The second offense
will impose a three day suspension, the third offense will call for a five day suspension, and the fourth and final offense will result in expulsion for the rest of the school term. • Lincoln High Social Studies teacher Ross Tegeler does not support the new policy because he feels it will result in more work for the teachers. "It's just one more thing for teachers to do, and in the long run smokers will just go off campus to do their smoking." Ha,rold Scott, also a Social Studies teacher at LHS feels the enforcement of the policy will take work. Scott said, "I see no reason for it not to work. It will take a lot of manpower though." Feedback from faculty has been about as expected according to Nelson. "We don't have everybody agreeing to it, but we do have the majority which is all we need," Nels<?,.n said. Nelson explained non-smoking clinics will be held after school, later on in the fall to help kids who want to quit smok· ing. "We're ,working in conjunction with the American Cancer and Lung Association who will set up clinics to help kids "kick the habit".