Revising the tobacco smoking policy is getting smoke in the campus community’s eyes. Next fall smokers on campus will have designated smoking areas through out campus. However, the only change for this fall is all residence halls are smoke free.
Later this month President Pattenaude will announce the changes in the tobacco smoking policy to the campus community.
Last year, University staff and health officials drafted a plan to make all USM campuses smoke free. The draft did not gain University approval nor did it pass in last spring’s election.
The revised policy addresses designated out door smoking areas in September of 2003,” Carri Nix Kivela Nurse Practitioner and Chair of the tobacco policy implementation team said.
“We haven’t planned where the designated areas will be, but those will be the only areas to smoke in,”
The tobacco policy implementation team understands the change will be difficult for the community.
“The policy will impact USM Community,” Kivela said. “We want to provide support for those folks because it may be difficult to meet the new guidelines.”
The team plans to offer sensation courses, counseling programs and resources for the community wanting to quit.
“There is lots of confusion with the current policy,” Craig Hutchinson, Vice President, Division of Student Development said. “It is difficult to determine were the 50 feet rule begins or ends. It makes sense to be specific.”
The current University smoking policy reads, “Smoking is prohibited in all University buildings as well as within 50 feet of handicapped accessible building entrances.”
Officials want the policy to assist and educate the USM community beginning with having all residence halls smoke free.
“We haven’t had any negative feedback from residents,” Sarah Treible, Resident Director for Upton Hastings said “People seem to understand the rule and on the whole it is more positive.”
Cole Harradon, a junior Political Science and Psychology major is pleased with the change.
“I’m allergic to smoke it’s annoying when herds of people are smoking in front of the doorway, it’s not anesthetically pleasing to the campus or the dorms.”
“It’s a positive approach rather than outlawing smoking,” Hutchinson said
The smoking campus community wants some sort of compromise.
“There are a lot of students who don’t smoke,” Rachel Rand a freshman of undeclared major said. “A designated smoking area is fine.
“They should make the area a place were we already hangout,” she said. “Don’t stick us by the dumpsters.”