S yy This issue: (¥ Douglas College honours victims of violence (¥ Eagles grounded And more! ( Notorious dog-killer now faces murder charges Have an idea for a story? Let us know! Contact: Angela Espinoza, News Editor Mi news@theotherpress.ca www.theotherpress.ca Douglas prohibits e-cigarettes indoors » Continuing research recognizes possible health risks Angela Espinoza News Editor Minews 5 @theotherpress.ca s of November 5, Douglas College has prohibited electronic cigarettes inside campuses. Electronic cigarettes and similar devices are now restricted to the designated smoking areas at each campus. “We have included e-cigarettes in our Restricted Smoking Policy,’ said Nancy Constable, Douglas’ director of safety, security, and risk management. The policy was recently updated recognizing that e-cigarettes are associated with their own health risks. “Health authorities such as Health Canada, the Lung Association, US Food & Drug Administration, to name a few, have not, at this time, given the nod of approval to e-cigarettes,” said Constable. “More studies are required to better understand the toxicology : and the impact on the health : of those who are exposed to : second-hand vapours and : side-stream vapours from : e-cigarettes.” Constable added that a : number of other Canadian : post-secondary institutions : have implemented similar : restrictions regarding : e-cigarettes. In October, the city of : Vancouver banned the use : of e-cigarettes in public : spaces. Health concerns over : e-cigarettes that contain : nicotine and uncertainty with : long-term effects were deciding : factors in the ruling. In January, Canadian Living : published a piece titled “Are : electronic cigarettes safe?” : outlining the known safety the World Health Organization, hazards of e-cigarettes, as well : as some benefits. The article : reaffirms that e-cigarettes are : to help smokers get over their : addiction or habit by offering : a less harmful alternative. : : However, another concern in the : : article is “particulate matter,” : which e-cigarette users inhale : when smoking, regardless of : nicotine presence. E-cigarettes are also : popular in high schools, with : various school boards across : BC banning their presence : within school grounds back in : February. Ina memo from the : Vancouver School Board on the : matter, the board states, “The : health impact of repeatedly : 3 : inhaling e-cigarette chemicals is : y : unknown, and students or staff: : exposed to e-cigarette vapour: : may beat risk of asthma attacks : : or other lung irritations.” The : Vancouver ruling also prohibits : sale of e-cigarettes to minors. Vancouver is the fourth : city in Canada to recognize : e-cigarettes as cigarettes, : following York, Ontario; Red : Deer, Alberta; and Hantsport, : Nova Scotia. The New West campus has : two designated smoking areas. : One is outside the fourth floor : entrance, 10 metres away from : the theatre foyer doors and 10 metres away from the Douglas : by the outdoor water fountain. David Lam has one : Students’ Union building doors. designated smonnga BL iIding : : The other is east of the staircase } OCUSO OUNSIRE The Ae) DULCNS near the southeast ramp. For more information, : students can view the Restricted : Smoking Policy online at : goo.gl/igpAui Did you know? » Douglas College libraries Angela Espinoza News Editor Minews 5 @theotherpress.ca “Did you know?” informs Douglas students about college services. If you're part of a campus organization for students and want to raise awareness, email us at news@theotherpress.ca get familiar with your campus libraries. Tutoring and other student help are offered in the campus’ library operations supervisor Cathy Grant discussed additional library services students may not be familiar with. “We have reciprocal borrowing with a variety of universities and colleges across BC,” said Grant. This means Douglas students have : additional options when : looking for sources (list of : colleges and universities at goo. : gl/kGZe34). “What we always : suggest to our students when : going to another college or : university library is to contact : that library and make sure that : you're bringing in the proper : ID that particular library may : require.” As students may not : be using library resources : until exam time, some don’t Wie finals just around the : corner, now is the time to : : borrowing or returning. realize the library’s policies on “TStudents] can return : books to both campus libraries, : except for reserve items. If they Douglas libraries, but New West : borrow a reserve item from : the campus that they’re at, : they need to return it to that : campus. There’s been some : cases where the students aren't : aware of that, which may cause fine problems for them.” Library fines are specified : by what type of item is being : borrowed, how long it’s out for, : and for some items, their value. “We fine on reserve items, we fine on equipment, and : we fine if there’s a hold,” said : Grant. If you've got an item : overdue and a student places a : hold on that same item, you'll : get fined. Grant stated the : library website and bookmarks : offered by the libraries, “lay out : our fine policiesand what we: : fine on, [such as] hourly fines as : : opposed to daily fines.” Students should also keep “It’s $5 a day per item, and : [ think that’s what students : are surprised about, is the cost : with videos and DVDs. A lot : of the VHS and the DVDs that : we have are educational, and : they can run into the hundreds : of dollars, that’s why the high cost.” As for how fines affect : the student’s library account, ? Grant explained that fines : over $10 cause the student’s : library account to freeze, and : the student won't be able to : take items out until the total is : below that amount. The library : : attempts numerous ways to : contact students, such as with : email or via the phone. “We : don’t have vast amounts of : resources, so we like to try and : make sure that resources are : available to everybody,” Grant : said. “All books are due back : on the last day of semester, : : because we do like to gather : in mind that fines for DVDs and : VHS are more expensive. everything back in and make The library operates “on a semester basis,” so ideally ; student accounts should be : cleared by the end of semester. “We encourage students, if : they are registered for the next : semester, that if they would like : to borrow over the intersession, : they can as long as all material : from the previous semester has : been returned” : The college libraries also try : : to have textbooks on hand for : many of the courses, and they : “make every effort to get the : latest edition of materials.” Those wanting more quiet : space from other students can : book any of the New West or : David Lam study spaces up to : a week in advance. The David : Lam study spaces all offer : audio-visual equipment and are : ona single level of the library. : Six of New West’s eight study ; rooms are on the second floor : of the library, but only the two : spaces located on the main floor : : offer audio-visual equipment. : sure everybody’s record is clear.” : “We've chosen not to do : the same here just because of : the remoteness of the study ; rooms upstairs. As far as ; troubleshooting equipment, : especially at night, we don’t : have as many staff on, so it : would be very hard for us to get : up there and help the students,” said Grant. Finally, as there is often : confusion on the library’s food and drink policies, Grant states : snacks like chips and apples are : fine, but, “the burger and fries : [are] best eaten in the cafeteria.”