Smokescreen lifted
On Tuesday night 617 Oxford Union members voted in a poll to decide whther smoking should be banned on the ground floor of the institution. The poll was brought by Ashley Peacock, ex-CCC of the Union, after a motion brought to the chamber in 2nd week. Patrick MacKerras, head of Student Action on Smoking and Health (SASH) was the driving force behind the campaign and drummed up a lot of support by canvassing before and during the poll.
The new rule makes the Oxford Union bar the only non-smoking bar in Oxford. Members will, however, be allowed to smoke in the upstairs rooms, for example the Gladstone room, which is already a popular place for students to enjoy a drink.
Jeff Bell, President of the Oxford Union, appeared to be pleased that members had used their right to change their Union. He said in a press statement "Mr MacKerras has used all the proper channels to bring meaningful change to the Union and has received support from his fellow members.
The ban will be effective from the end of next term's freshers' open period.
25th May 2000