In a vote of 14 to 5, the AUSA Senate voted to support the tobacco free DU initiative last Tuesday.

The meeting drew more than 45 student and staff observers and the issue was discussed for over two hours.

This decision does not mean the policy is officially adopted. It will go to Chancellor Coombe on March 16, and later the board of trustees for final approval.

There was extensive debate at the meeting by observers and senators on both sides of the issue.

Students in the audience raised questions about where campus boundaries are, if the policy would apply to visitors, and how it would be enforced.The campus boundaries are University to High and Buchtel to Harvard, and the policy would only apply to “university owned common and educational grounds,” not Greek houses or university owned housing, said junior senator Joel Portman.

The policy would apply the same to visitors as it would to students, staff, and faculty. Signs would inform visitors of the tobacco-free policy at DU games and events. To handle policy violations by visitors or students, Campus Safety would follow a standard procedure.

“The officer would talk to the person, advise them of the campus policy, and ask for their cooperation,” said Sgt. Stephen Banet, the campus safety representative at the meeting.

The senate raised the question of whether the health center would increase its tobacco cessation assistance programs if the policy was adopted.

“We can guarantee there’s going to be an increase in support groups and individual counseling for cessation,” said Katie Dunker, health promotions coordinator for the health center. She was not sure if the health center would be able to offer free or reduced price nicotine replacement products, like gum and the patch.

Senior senator MJ O’Malley spoke passionately in support of the initiative. The current policy, which prohibits smoking within 25 ft. of a building entrance, is too arbitrary and unenforceable, she said. “The 25 ft. rule is ridiculous,” she said, “the more reasonable policy to enforce is the smoke-free campus. It’s tangible.”

O’Malley went on to address concerns made by some audience members that the policy is too extreme.

“When it comes to what’s extreme in society, we want to pick and choose what is and isn’t extreme,” she said. “The things that need to be changed are the things that seem normal.”

Senior senator Zoee Turrill also supported the proposal.

She addressed the personal choice issue of smoking that many had raised.

“This is a health issue. Secondhand smoke creates health issues. When people walk by smokers, their health is compromised.

“I understand people have rights, but we take away rights all the time,” said Turrill.

Sophomore senator Dillon Doyle spoke in opposition to the initiative, questioning its enforceability.

“We should try to enforce the 25 foot rule for a quarter and see how that works,” Doyle said.

He went on to voice concern about a tobacco free campus hurting the social cohesion that smoking can build, especially with first year students.

“There’s concern about smoking circles going away. What’s going to happen to those cliques?” he said.

Senior senator Tess Cromer was also against the initiative. She shared some of Doyle’s doubts about the successful enforcement of such a rule.

Since there are no plans to establish a system of fines or harsher punishment for violations, it may not be enforced effectively, she said.

“It might be more effectively enforced if there was something to back it up,” said Cromer.

She also raised the concern that tobacco use is not the most pressing concern on campus.

Before working on a tobacco-free campus, she said, “I would like to see a year go by without sending a freshman to detox.”