Chancellor James Oblinger announced revisions to the smoking policy for University facilities in an e-mail last Wednesday. The revisions to the policy will affect smoking outside University buildings and any remaining residential facilities that permit smoking.
Effective Jan. 1, smoking will be banned outdoors within 25 feet of all University facilities. However, a waiver to this policy can be granted by the appropriate dean or vice chancellor who is in charge of the given areas. Furthermore, by Aug. 15, any remaining University residential facilities will become smoke-free.
Last session, the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 259, the Prohibit Smoking in Public & Work Places Act, which banned smoking in public and work places — this bill was the catalyst for the changes to University policy.
While the changes to the smoking policy for University facilities take a step at curbing smoking on our campus, they don’t go far enough. If the Administration is going to forbid smoking 25 feet within University facilities they should go one step further and ban smoking completely from all University property.
According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, as of Oct. 1 of this year there are 94 colleges and universities nationwide with smoke-free polices throughout the entire campus, both indoors and out. Many of these schools are small colleges and universities or community colleges — the rare few larger schools include the University of Mississippi, University of Minnesota at Duluth and Oklahoma State University at Stillwater.
It’s time that N.C. State adds its name to the list. University leaders should not just stop at the current 25-foot, smoke-free zone from University facilities, but ban smoking on all University properties.
By banning smoking entirely, NCSU can take the initiative to promote a healthy campus. Also, for those who smoke and are trying to quit, a campus-wide ban on smoking will make it easier for them to kick this deadly habit.
Not only will banning smoking aid in beating a bad habit, but it will promote healthy living. As further research is conducted, more is learned about the connection of smoking to cancer and other diseases. Our University must step up and be proactive in aiding in the health of the general population on our campus.
The recent amendment in the law has caused this change on our campus. Now its time for our administrators to take the next step and extinguish smoking completely on campus.
