The tobacco-free policy now under consideration would affect the main DU campus between South High Street on the west and South University Boulevard on the east and from the science buildings at the south of campus too Buchtel Boulevard. In this area, tobacco products would not be able to be used on university property.

Tobacco products, including cigarettes, could be used on any non-university property, including sidewalks.

The policy is tentatively looking at going into effect next January, allowing for opportunities for education about the policy across campus this coming fall quarter.

People have become more aware of the dangers of second-hand smoke and as a result, there have been many indoor and outdoor smoking restrictions enacted. This trend has now moved to educational institutions.

Currently, there are more than 260 colleges and universities that have tobacco restrictions similar to the proposed DU policy, and the majority of Colorado institutions are working toward tobacco free policies.

DU has the opportunity to lead the way in Colorado colleges and universities by approving and implementing this policy without delay.

The tobacco-free policy isn’t just to protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke but to encourage smokers to quit.

A study released by the American Journal of Public Health found that “laws with comprehensive restriction led to more worksites with smoking policies and increased likelihood that workers would quit smoking.”

The Health and Counseling Center and the state offer effective cessation programs ,and once the policy is implemented, there will be a significant increase in the amount of promotion for these services.

The tobacco-free policy will be brought before Chancellor Coombe in mid-March. As such, now is the time to demonstrate support for a tobacco-free campus. This has brought about the creation of the Student Tobacco-Free DU Taskforce in order to demonstrate student support of the tobacco-free policy.

Working with the Health and Counseling Center and DU Peer Educators, we are collecting signatures for a petition for a tobacco-free DU. Our goal is to reach 2,500 student signatures on the petition.

So far, there are more than 1,500 signatories, about 1,300 of which are students.

You can sign the petition and encourage your friends and classmates to do the same. The tobacco-free policy petition can be found online at www.du.edu/duhealth.

The Student Tobacco-Free DU Taskforce is seeking student organizations to endorse the tobacco-free policy. Bring the proposal up at the next meeting of every student organizations you are involved in.

If your student organization has voted to endorse the tobacco-free policy, please send an e-mail to Joel Portman at jportman@du.edu with the name of the organization and your permission for us to use your organization name.

You can also email Joel to request more information or to have a member of the Taskforce attend a meeting.

With your support, we, the students of the University of Denver, can demonstrate our support for improving our campus community by taking action now to make the University of Denver a tobacco-free campus.

If you are interested in joining to Student Tobacco-Free DU Taskforce and helping to rally support for a tobacco-free policy, please e-mail Dan Morgan at dan.morgan@du.edu.