Photo by: Megan Westervelt
Going outside to take a cigarette break on campus will come to an end on Jan 1.
At the start of the year, smoking on the DU campus will be banned, a decision made by Chancellor Robert Coombe on May 28, following a petition signed by nearly 1,900 community members.
Tobacco products will be banned from all indoor and outdoor areas of campus, including a distance of 25 feet from the campus perimeter.
Although smoking will be prohibited, punishment and violations will be minimal.
The ban extends DU’s current policy, which bans smoking within 25 feet of entrances and exits and all university buildings.
“It is important to note that while the university has rules and regulations governing the conduct of its students, faculty, and staff and policies in keeping with current law, it does not regulate legal personal choice unless such choice has a deleterious effect on the community as a whole” Coombe wrote in his letter to the community.
Exceptions will be granted outside of the Ritchie Center and the Newman Center, because of their open public use.
“Designated smoking areas will be made available outside the buildings, at an appropriate distance from entrances and exits, during public events,” Coombe wrote.
DU is among hundreds of colleges across the county to implement a smoking ban. According to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, 302 college campuses in the U.S. are smoke-free.
According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 27.2 percent of full-time college students smoke, compared to 28.4 percent of the general population.
The Health and Counseling Center will be offering free tobacco cessation classes, one-on-one counseling with a tobacco treatment specialist and resources for free patches. These resources are available to all students, faculty and staff.
“This is going to effect our campus in a positive way, the involuntary exposure to second hand smoke detrimental to your health,” said Katie Dunker, assistant director for health promotion at the health and counseling center. “This should significantly reduce second-hand smoke on campus and we are absolutely thrilled.”
The proposal to ban smoking was created by Tobacco Task Force, led by Sam Alexander, director of student health services, after nearly one year of gathering data and public opinion on smoking.
“I think that the upcoming smoking ban is a strong statement promoting the general health of the university community,” said Antoine Perretta, president of the undergraduate student body. “I have heard from upset students, and I do feel for them.”
Originally, their proposal was endorsed by the student senate, but not by the Graduate Student Association Council or the Faculty Senate.
“Peer enforcement is the primary means,” said Craig Woody, vice chancellor of business and financial affairs. “The office of citizenship and community standards will be notified if you have a recurrent student and human resources will be notified if you are an employee.”
The new policy was recommended by the buildings and grounds committee, the Board of Trustees and approved by the Executive Committee of the board.
Resources
- Fixnixer.com
- Colorado quit line at quitdoingit.com
- DU Health and Counseling Center at du.edu/health
