College campuses around the nation are going smoke-free.
According to a Sept. 1 CNN article, The University of Kentucky and the University of Michigan are the latest universities to follow the smoke-free trend.
The article stated the University of Kentucky joined over 500 other college campuses with a smoke-free policy when it became official on July 1.
“It is based upon people wanting to have healthy campuses and to establish habits, which means going smoke-free,” Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Kathy Cavins-Tull said.
Junior computer information technology major Daniel Ducic said he does not agree with smoking indoors, but if people can buy cigarettes they should at least be able to smoke outside.
“If I am sitting in my classroom smoking a cigarette that is a different issue, because it is bothering people around me,” Ducic said. Even if he didn’t smoke, he wouldn’t have a problem with other people smoking on campus as long as they were outside, he said.
Sophomore pre-major Tori Knox agreed. Smoking is unhealthy, but it is a personal decision to be made, she said.
“(Smoking) is a stress reliever for some people, and for some people it is just a social thing,” Knox said.
Violations vary between different schools, according to the CNN article.
Ozarks Technical Community College was one of the first smoke-free campus. Students at the college receive a warning for the first violation, a 15 dollar fine for the second and third, and face probation for any subsequent violations, the article said.
Volunteer students and adults from campus group Tobacco-Free Take Action! patrol the University of Kentucky campus and ask any smoker they see to put out their cigarette.
According to the CNN article, the University of Kentucky started to implement the smoke-free policy in 2009, after Kentucky was found to have one of the highest smoking rates.
Cavins-Tull did not foresee TCU following in the footsteps of smoke-less campuses, she said, emphasizing that it was ultimately a student decision.
“I am somebody that wants the healthiest campus that we can have, but I also want students and faculty and staff to have governance over their campus,” Cavins-Tull said.
“I think it is a little ridiculous, if I can’t walk through a parking lot and smoke a cigarette,” said Ducic. “If I put it out somewhere and I don’t litter, I don’t see an issue with it.”
Cavins-Tull said smoking is addictive and if TCU were to go smoke-free, she would want to create programs to support students, faculty and staff who will have to deal with the change.
According to the TCU Student Handbook, smoking is not allowed in any residence hall or building on campus.
