St. Cloud State University Policies & Procedures

Smudging and Pipe Link☍

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Current Status: Approved

Policy Type: All University

Department/Division: Recently Approved

Effective Date: 09/10/2024

Last Updated: 09/10/2024

Applies To: Students, Faculty, Staff, Visitors, Contractors, Vendors

Responsible University Officer: Vice President for University Affairs and Advisor to the President

Policy Owner: Director of Risk and Emergency Management

Policy Contact:

Rationale

St. Cloud State University (SCSU) is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to creating an open and respectful campus climate for all.  This policy establishes the University’s position and practice with respect to smudging, pipe ceremonies, and the burning of aromatic elements by American Indians and other Indigenous communities on facilities owned and operated by SCSU. Additionally, this policy provides structure to the University community to support engagement in these traditions while respecting everyone on campus.

Policy

 

The University recognizes tobacco, sage, sweet grass, and cedar as traditional American Indian and Indigenous communities’ medicines and essential elements of purification and sacred ceremony. SCSU will develop procedures that delineate expectations and flexibility in usage, locations, and notifications to promote an inclusive, open, and respectful campus climate for our diverse community members and guests.

Students, faculty, staff, elders, and cultural teachers all of whom are members of an American Indian Tribe or other cultural/religious group, may use substances including tobacco, sage, sweet grass, cedar and incense to conduct individual or group traditional practices.  These practices may include but not limited to, Prayers, Individual or Group Smudging, Feasts, Pipe Ceremonies, Pow Wows, or to accompany Drumming or Singing.

This Policy is established in accordance with Minnesota’s Clean Air Act (Minnesota Statutes 1997 144.4167 and 144.4165), and The American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA).

Procedure

This procedure should be followed by SCSU community members engaging in these traditions while respecting others.  There are many types or forms of ceremony, some are individual, others are part of engagement with Indigenous pedagogies in a classroom; or with the purpose of engaging a larger community.

Locations and Notifications

Notification/space approval needs to be completed and submitted to the Safety Administrator no less than six (6) business days prior to the requested event – safetyadmin@stcloudstate.edu. The Safety Administrator may deny any request due to health or safety concerns, or suggest alternatives.

Organizers of spiritual or cultural ceremonies held indoors shall be expected to work with the Safety Administrator, or designee, to ensure that fire alarms or sprinkler systems do not inadvertently activate.  The university will enforce expectations and flexibility in usage, locations, and notifications to promote an inclusive, open, and respectful campus climate for SCSU community members and guests. 

Responsibility of the Safety Administrator:

  • Evaluate the fire and ventilation systems in the requested space and determine whether to approve the space.
  • Work with the requester on how to post notice of the planned event or approved use, and assure posting occurs.
  • Respond to concerns expressed by other community members around health and safety and attempt to resolve them.
  • Inform Public Safety, Facilities and Grounds, Dean of Students, Equity and Inclusion, Building Managers and other relevant staff.

Outdoor Spaces

Smudging/pipe ceremonies are permitted in all Public Expression Areas on campus.  Events hosted, in these areas or others, on the campus grounds must be registered and approved through the Safety Administrator, including notice that the event may include the use of tobacco, sage, sweet grass, cedar or incense.

  • Atwood Mall West green space where the Atwood Memorial Center sign is posted
  • The mall area in front on the west side of Stewart Hall
  • The mall on the west side of the Administrative Services Building
  • Plaza on the south side of the National Hockey Center
  • Southwest plaza side of the Husky Stadium

Annually Approved Individual Office and Work Spaces

Members of the University community may conduct smudging in an individual office or workspace without specific notice if annual approval has been given:

  • Annual approval from the Safety Administrator, including signage, is done by submitting a smudging notification to the Safety Admin at safetyadmin@stcloudstate.edu, with a minimum of six (6) business days' notice.
  • Annual approval is granted by the Safety Administrator for the term of one year from date of approval notification, or until location conditions change, in which case another request for approval will need to be submitted.
  • Annual approval does not automatically renew.
  • Once Office or Workspace pre-approval has been granted by the Safety Administrator, signage identifying the area as “Smudging Approved Space” will be posted.

Preapproved Indoor Locations for Events:

In locations such as classrooms and meeting rooms, a University member or other cultural/religious groups who plan to conduct smudging or pipe ceremony in a classroom or meeting room shall:

  • Contact the Safety Administrator, to seek approval for the space reserved.
  • Inform participants/meeting attendees of the intention to use tobacco, sage, sweet grass, cedar, and or incense, in the space.
  • Post notices on the closed door(s).

  Use of Smudging or pipe ceremony in pedagogy:

  If the smudging or pipe ceremony is part of an official course presentation:

  • The date of the ceremony must be indicated in the syllabus, or at least two weeks prior to the event.
  • Students with physical sensitivities to smoke or scent must be allowed to make alternate arrangements with the instructor for course participation.
  • Post notices on the closed door(s).

Residential Life

  • Smudging is not approved for nor should it be performed in dorm rooms.
  • Smudging/pipe ceremonies in all resident halls are to be held in designated areas only. Please see your Resident Hall Director for reservation and access to the designated area in each hall.

 

Expectations for use of campus space for smudging and pipe ceremonies:

  • Prior to use, university member will ensure these procedural steps have been followed.
  • Faculty, staff, or students whose health may be negatively impacted by smoke or odor, who become aware of an event or space approval should contact the Safety Administrator.

 

Related St. Cloud State University Policies

Definitions

Smudging

Smudging is the use of smoke (from an organic source such as sage, sweet grass, cedar, or amber) in spiritual, religious, prayer, or faith practices.

Contacts

Responsible University Officer
   Siminoe, Judith P.
   Vice President for University Affairs and Advisor to the President
 
jpsiminoe@stcloudstate.edu
320-308-2124
Owner
   Hammond, Kevin J.
   Director of Risk and Emergency Management
 
kevin.hammond@stcloudstate.edu
320-308-2144

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Non-St. Cloud State Users: Email comments to policy@stcloudstate.edu