Let’s talk tobacco
Black-and-white images of movie stars in suit jackets or ball gowns sensually smoking cigarettes glamorized a habit that in the last decade has become less fashionable and more of a social stigma.
College campuses in particular are trending toward smoke-free environments. The number of smoke-free campuses has surged from basically zero to more than 700 within the last 10 years, according to The Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights.
Idaho State University implemented a smoking ban that took effect in September, and Boise State University’s policy has been in place since 2009. Although the University of Idaho has policies that restrict smoking on campus, it is the only university in Idaho that does not have a smoke-free campus.
Although smoking on campus has historically not been an issue at UI, ASUI found in a recent survey that between 67 and 77 percent of campus supports limiting smoking to specific areas. Between 27 and 37 percent of campus supports a complete ban on all tobacco products.
UI’s smoking policy states that smoking is not allowed in any buildings on campus except those permitted by the Director of University Residences. Smoking is also prohibited within 25 feet of buildings.
What hasn’t been an issue since UI opened its doors in 1892 is becoming a topic of increasing student interest as the discussion of tobacco use on campus flares up. Especially since UI is feeling pressure as the last higher education institution in Idaho to still allow smoking on campus.
Maybe you’re a nonsmoker who dislikes walking through a cloud of secondhand smoke on campus. Or maybe you’re a smoker who wants to preserve the right to light up a cigarette outside the Idaho Commons after a stressful test. Either way, it’s time to voice your opinion.
Should smoking be limited to specific areas on campus or banned entirely? And should the ban include all tobacco products or just cigarettes? Go to your student leaders in ASUI and approach members of the UI Faculty Senate with your views on tobacco use on campus. Ultimately, they will make the decision they feel is best for the university, but they need your input.
A compromise could be reached or smoking could be banned entirely. It’s the students’ university, so let’s be the ones who influence policies that affect our learning environment.
— EE
Smoking bans do little to discourage smoking. There are already rules in place to segregate smokers from the general population. The only biggest reason to put a smoking ban in place is so that non-smokers don’t even have to see smokers.
Worse, most “smoking” bans end up extending to all “tobacco” products, not just cigars and cigarettes. That’s not encouraging healthy habits. That’s being punitive toward people who enjoy the effects of nicotine.
Why is “tobacco” in quotes? Because usually these bans even extend to products that may not necessarily include any tobacco, such as electronic cigarettes. These products produce no smoke, instead utilize a liquid consisting of water, nicotine, propylene glycol and artificial flavors. The nicotine in these devices is not always even derived from tobacco, since eggplants and potatoes also contain significant amounts of nicotine and can be used instead of tobacco. Propylene glycol is an FDA-approved, harmless base used in many food products. Banning these also punishes people who are attempting to quit or reduce their smoking habit.
“Smoking” bans also typically extend to smokeless tobacco products such as dipping tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff and snus. These products produce no smoke and are not even a conceivable danger to anyone’s health except the user.
The only reason to include electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in a “smoking” ban is to be punitive toward people with a habit that is in the minority. The only reason other than punishment to ban cigarettes and cigars is because some non-smokers don’t even want to see smokers. That, in my opinion is not a good enough reason to proceed with banning use these products from campus.
A ban is ridiculous and would only lead to loss of employee and student time going off-campus to use nicotine products, plus expenses required for signs, notifications and continuous enforcement of the policy.