Smoke-free college campuses seem to be a nationwide trend, with at least 1,159 colleges enacting smoke-free policies, according to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation. To determine if smoke-free is the right choice for the University of Idaho, ASUI has sought input from students.
In the recent ASUI election, 745 students supported a smoke-free campus policy while 636 voted to have no change in UI’s current policy. An ASUI survey in the fall found 67-77 percent of campus supported limiting smoking to specific areas and 27-37 percent of campus supported a complete ban on all tobacco products.
The number of smoke-free campuses has increased from almost none to more than 700 within the last 10 years, according to The Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights. However, many of these campuses are medical schools and non-residential community colleges. Before enacting an outright ban, perhaps UI should attempt enforcing the policy it already has in place.
UI’s smoking policy states that smoking is not allowed in any buildings on campus except those permitted by the Director of University Residences. Smoking is also prohibited within 25 feet of buildings.
It seems the main problems associated with smoking on campus are undesirable secondhand smoke and litter. Designating specific areas on campus where smoking is allowed is one way for nonsmokers to avoid inhaling secondhand smoke, but still allows smokers to get their fix. An authority figure, such as campus security, should be responsible for ensuring smokers are the proper distance away from buildings and don’t litter.
Enacting a smoking ban is a good idea in theory, but impractical to enforce. Without real consequences, people are unlikely to obey the policy. The ban is one solution to the problem, but it might not be the most effective one.
A compromise almost always exists in any disagreement, even between smokers and nonsmokers. Before implementing a smoking ban on the entire campus, UI should educate students about its current policy and look at making small changes, such as designating specific smoking areas that could have a big impact.
And until a decision is reached, students should continue to express their opinions on the potential smoking ban to ensure a policy is created that is reflective of the majority of campus.
— EE