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University of Minnesota explores smoking ban
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Smokers at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities could be forced to leave campus to light up a cigarette as a result of recent considerations to institute a campuswide smoking ban.
U of M is looking into a smoking ban for all university buildings and property, which is due in part to the Student Advisory Health Committee raising questions about the effects of smoking on campus, according to Gerald Rinehart, U of M vice provost for Student Affairs and chief Student Affairs officer.
To help gauge interest over the smoking ban, school officials sent out surveys to university students, staff and faculty members during the first week of October, Rinehart said.
The surveys inquired about respondents’ attitudes toward smoking, where they were normally exposed to secondhand smoke on campus and if the university should provide a sense of leadership regarding smoking on campus. The surveys provided students with a blank space to freely express their views on smoking as well, Rinehart added.
“The problem we are encountering while considering the ban is figuring out exactly where our campus is,” Rinehart said. “There are a lot of public blocks in between campus buildings throughout the city.”
Additionally, establishing a ban could create safety problems, Rinehart said.
“The ban could pose a safety risk for students in residence halls who might be leaving in the middle of the night to go off campus to have a cigarette,” Rinehart said. “We wouldn’t want anything to happen to the students while off campus.”
The University of Wisconsin currently has no campuswide smoking ban. UW’s current smoking policy was amended in March 2008 and forbids students from smoking indoors, in athletic facilities, in residence halls, on the grounds of campus health facilities and within 25 feet of university buildings.
According to Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of Smoke Free Wisconsin, smoking bans can help smokers who want to quit finally kick the habit.
“Bans make it more difficult to smoke,” Busalacchi said. “One of the triggers for some people is being around others who smoke.”
If the ban is enacted, U of M would provide cessation services for those students and staff members who smoke. Citing the survey, Rinehart said currently about 3.4 percent of students and 1 percent of staff at the university are daily smokers. Of those who do smoke, 50 percent expressed interest in quitting.
Additionally, Rinehart said the possible ban at U of M could lead to financial benefits, as smoking-related illnesses make up 10 percent — approximately $11 million — of university health spending.
Despite the benefits, the university will proceed cautiously with the ban.
“We are also sensitive to individual rights and realize that this ban would have to be socially enforced,” Rinehart said. “We don’t plan on hiring more police officers to give out tickets to people for smoking. We will rely on individuals to tell others about the ban.”
Other colleges with campuswide bans include the 14 Pennsylvania state-owned universities and the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
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“The ban could pose a safety risk for students in residence halls who might be leaving in the middle of the night to go off campus to have a cigarette,”
Oh yeah….I’m sure they’ll leave campus for a smoke. What a joke!
When bans are implemented OUTSIDE, it becomes pretty obvious that they are NOT about protecting non-smoker’s health but are all about people who “know better” and want to control others behavior. The indoor bans are in place for the same reason.
Certainly there are very good reasons for indoor bans. There are numerous studies that show that secondhand smoke indoors becomes concentrated and does cause damage to the health of the 80 percent who don’t smoke.
Really? “Numerous studies?” Have you personally read or verified any of them, or are you just another political parrot?
I’m so tired of just smoking being attacked!
What about all the other health hazards? Like people sticking their noses in where they are NOT welcome (it’s a health risk because I want to punch that nose), or perfumes. Perfume makes me very sick. Men’s too but especially women—they feel they need to dump the whole bottle over their head just before they walk in somewhere. Perfumes make me very sick, but I wouldn’t dream of banning it, it’s a legal product and it’s their right to wear it.
Exhaust fumes are MUCH worse, why don’t you ban cars on campus?
Health care costs are up for smokers because smokers are forced out into the elements NOT because they smoke! It’s proven that smokers actually cost less because they die earlier.
How would you like to stand outside in the freezing cold or rain to drink that cup of coffee that smells so awful to some? THAT will never happen.
The anti-smokers are automatically guilty of egregious scientific fraud, for ignoring more than 50 studies which show that human papillomaviruses cause over ten times more lung cancers than they pretend are caused by secondhand smoke. Passive smokers are more likely to have been exposed to this virus, and the anti-smokers’ studies, which are all based on nothing but lifestyle questionnaires, have been purposely DESIGNED to falsely blame passive smoking for all those extra lung cancers that are really caused by HPV.
http://www.smokershistory.com/hpvlungc.htm
its not like the ban is for indoors (which i understand) or its not like high school where for the majority of students its illegal. they are outside and its their choice to smoke i think this is dumb and that people need to get over it and let it go. if you dont like smoking then dont smoke and dont be around people who are its that simple
University Wisconsin stout polytechnic Considers Campus Smoking ban indoors and outdoors cross campus.
article here: http://uwstoutmedia.com/possible-smoking-ban-on-campus/