No Smoking Fines

By John Hickey
The two white-shirted Wachenhut security officers on campus through Oct. 14 will issue no fines or citations, said Nelson Ortiz, Coordinator for Campus Security at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. The officers will educate students about designated smoking areas and about the fines for smoking in a non-designated area under the new Mid–Ohio Valley Health Department regulations.

Ortiz said the fines range from $50 to $500 and that, under the new regulations, WVUP could be fined for every student who is cited for smoking, in an amount equal to the fine the student receives. Because of this potential legal liability to the school, he said, WVUP President Marie Foster Gnage ordered that security officers be hired to educate students on the regulations. Only after Oct. 14, when the Wachenhut officers leave, will any citations will be issued, and any citations that are issued will be issued by campus security.

Christina Clancy of the Student Government Association said the SGA will staff a table by the library this week to survey student opinion on the implementation of the new regulations.