UCF President John C. Hitt announced Thursday UCF is moving to ban smoking on campus “out of concern for the health and safety of our campus community.”
The announcement came during Hitt’s State of the University address, which was held in front of students, alumni and community members in the Pegasus Ballroom of the UCF Student Union.
Hitt declared that UCF will host public discussions and forums as the second-largest university formulates its new smoking policy, which would align UCF with anti-smoking moves being made by Orange County government and Florida Hospital.
Hitt also addressed how underage drinking became a topic on campus following UCF freshman Ann Hefferin’s death.
“As president of this university, let me be very clear: UCF has no tolerance for underage and excessive drinking, drinking while driving, or illegal drug possession and use on our campuses,” Hitt said.
Ida Cook, Chair of the Faculty Senate, also spoke, along with UCF SGA President Matt McCann.
McCann expressed how students are hurting following major blows the Bright Futures Scholarship program has sustained at the state level, combined with the tuition hikes students are being slammed with year after year.
“Times are tough. These issues are being felt by all students within the State University System, some more than others,” McCann said.
McCann also announced a plan to bring a video rental service, similar to “Red Box,” to campus.
To read the full transcript of the speeches given by Hitt, Cook and McCann, click on the next page below to read the text released by UCF.
