Saturday, February 28, 2009

Smoke-Free Campuses

Smoke-Free Campuses
Case Study by Lauren Rothbardt and Sara Oxfeld


SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
“At least 43 colleges have gone smoke-free from California to New Jersey. Nearly 31 percent of full-time college students smoke compared with about 25 percent of the overall population, according to the federal government’s 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Smoking is being banned everywhere on these campuses, even in the main quads and sidewalks” (Cook, 2007).
The Tobacco-Related Disease Research program conducted a study in 2000 about understanding and preventing college smoking. According to the study, in 1981, it was estimated that only 8.2 percent of college students smoked. By 1998, it was estimated that 28.5 percent of college students were supporting tobacco use. This number continues to rise in both two-year and four-year universities. This is the underlying reason why more and more universities are taking the steps to become smoke-free.
According to the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, “there are now at least 260 100 percent smoke-free campuses with no exemptions. Residential housing facilities are included, where they exist” (Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation). Tobacco free U is a Web site that outlines facts and figures about college students and tobacco use, sample smoke-free policies, tips for cessation, evaluation tips, and information by state. The Web site points out that half of current college smokers would like to quit, which is an important fact for universities to take into consideration when taking steps to become smoke-free.
On college campuses, certain subsets are more likely to use tobacco due to tobacco advertisements, sponsorships, and promotional events. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students, fraternity members, art students, and women are all classified as high-risk subgroups. It is important that universities tailor their messages for these groups.
First-year students are also considered a priority population because many of these students are away from home for the first time and are exploring their newly found freedom. This subset of students is vulnerable to the influence of tobacco advertisements. Virginia Commonwealth University and University of Maryland’s unpublished data found, “approximately 60 percent of sorority women smoke. We also know that smokeless tobacco companies have targeted fraternities with their promotions” (Tobacco Free U). Tobacco companies also target women because smoking is classified as an appetite suppressant and a way to maintain a lower weight.
College campuses are going smoke-free in rapidly growing numbers across the United States and we predict that many more universities will make the choice to go smoke-free in the near future.

EXECUTION
University at Buffalo
On Nov. 20, 2008, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, the University at Buffalo announced plans to implement a 100 percent smoke-free policy to take effect beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. UB also created the UBreathe Free Initiative to assist smokers in the process of quitting as the campus progresses to be smoke-free.
The initiative works in collaboration with Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the New York State Smokers Quitline, the Erie-Niagara Tobacco-Free Coalition, Tobacco Cessation Center North and the New York State Department of Health.
The vice president for health sciences, David L. Dunn, M.D, Ph.D., made the announcement. Under the plan, smoking will not be permitted in any UB owned building or space, including parking lots.
UB is the first SUNY campus in Western New York to implement a 100 percent smoke-free policy. The University of Wellness and Work/Life Balance within University Human Resources and Wellness Education Services within Student Affairs will be available to help students and faculty “kick the habit” (University at Buffalo). They will provide short cessation counseling and free nicotine patches and gum for smokers. “The Great American Smokeout is a great way for smokers to prove to themselves that they can quit for a day, in hopes of quitting for good” (ACS).
The decision to go smoke-free is consistent with the “Greener shades of Blue” initiatives. This campaign is committed to demonstrating environmental leadership by reducing energy costs, promoting alternative energy sources, and working to abate climate change. The decision to go smoke free was among those of a comprehensive recycling program and a rapid reorientation away from fossil fuel use, which is part of their Green Climate Action Initiative.
UB summoned a committee over a year ago to review their smoking policy and explore the options for strengthening it. The committee also brainstormed ways to help students and faculty quit smoking. The team was comprised of representatives from Human Resources, Student Affairs and UB’s Academic Health Center. This team created the UBreathe Free Initiative. In September 2008, UB ran an UBreathe Free Week where the university implemented a new smoking-cessation program.

University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas’s smoke-free policy stemmed from a belief that they could improve the health of all Arkansans through changes in public policy. Representing health interests on campus and the recipient of many complaints about the use of tobacco on campus, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs Mary Alice Serafini discussed a tobacco free campus with the vice chancellor for student affairs, Dr. Johnetta Cross Brazzell in the fall of 2006. She in turn took the proposal to the chancellor’s executive committee who reviewed the issues about tobacco use for several months. Serafini was used as a resource for the review.
In spring 2007, the chancellor’s executives decided that the campus needed at least 12 months to allow tobacco users to prepare for a tobacco free campus through participation in cessation programs. The plan was announced and the last academic year was used to inform governance groups, to hold town hall meetings, and to meet with anyone with any interest. Many classes used the policy as class projects.
In June, the tobacco-free policy is being marketed through a comprehensive campaign known as “Fresh” was announced.The director of communications and outreach for the Division of Student Affairs, Scott Flanagin, has headed up the marketing efforts for the policy, and worked with an award-winning student group, known as UA Productions, to create the concepts and the materials, right down to the Web site: http://fresh.uark.edu” (The University of Arkansas). On July 1, 2008, University of Arkansas went tobacco free
The Fresh Campaign has the YouTube account freshua to display their smoke-free Public Service Announcements.

Miami University
In fall 2008, Miami University went 100 percent smoke-free. In 1993, Miami first banned smoking in all public areas of buildings except in certain designated spaces. Thisban included smoking in residence halls, and in 2002 the ban was extended to restrict smoking within 25 feet of the halls. In December 2007, in conjunction with the state law banning smoking in public places of employment, smoking was also banned on the university’s campus within 25 feet of other buildings and in university owned vehicles.
Following the new bans in 2007, Provost Jeffrey Herbst formed an ad hoc committee to in effort to gather data to inform a decision. Surveys became available in print and online. Out of the 6,157 responses, 52 percent were in favor of a full smoking ban, with 62 percent favoring a ban if it meant support for smokers who were trying to quit (The Miami University). The committee took into account personal freedom issues, enforcement, grounds keeping, economic impact on a conference/hospitality level and economic impact on donations.
After reviewing all of these factors, the committee made the recommendation that Miami go smoke-free with a few exceptions such as hotels and conference centers. The committee also recommended offering multiple cessation options for its employee and student smokers. Herbest said, "We are banning smoking and offering cessation resources because nothing is more important than the health and welfare of Miami's people" (The Miami University).
On Aug. 27, 2007, at the Miami University Board of Trustees meeting, the board discussed the importance of maintaining a healthy living and learning environment for its staff and students. After reviewing the information brought to them by the ad hoc committee President David Hodge endorsed the recommendation for all four of Miami’s campus to become smoke-free beginning in the 2008-2009 academic year.
As of Aug. 1, 2008, Miami’s smoking ban was amended to be 100 percent smoke-free. Their new policy is as follows,
In order to promote the health of our students, faculty, staff and visitors, all Miami University campuses are designated Smoke-Free Environments. Smoking is defined as the burning of tobacco or any other material in any type of smoking equipment, including, but not restricted to, cigarettes, cigars, or pipes.
Smoking is prohibited in all Miami University-owned facilities and on the grounds of any university-owned property. This includes all buildings owned or controlled by Miami University, shelters, indoor and outdoor athletic facilities, indoor and outdoor theatres,bridges, walkways, sidewalks, residence halls, parking lots and garages. Smoking is prohibited on sidewalks that adjoin University property. Smoking is also prohibited in any vehicle or equipment owned, leased or operated by Miami University.
Faculty, staff, and students violating this policy are subject to University disciplinary action. Violators may also be subject to prosecution for violation of Ohio’s Smoking Ban (Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 3794). Visitors who violate this policy may be denied access to Miami University campuses and may ultimately be subject to arrest for criminal trespass,” (The Miami University).

EVALUATION
The University of Arkansas
According to the vice chancellor of student affairs, Mary Alice Serafini, “now that Arkansas’ smoke-free policy has been implemented, there are two major issues. First, the university did not have enough signage and are now making up for lost time on signage and posters. Secondly, people want enforcement and the policy is based on compliance and mutual respect.” The latest initiatives have been a resolution by the Residents Interhall Congress to set up designated smoking areas with a response from the Associated Student Government not to support designated smoking areas, but to enforce littering rules and implement enforcement of tobacco use away from buildings. The Tobacco Free Committee believes this will all be a three to four year process with bumps in the road. This is hard for those who really want a pure tobacco free campus and want punishment to achieve it. The university believes compliance will work in the end.

Miami University
On Sept. 12, 2008, a group referred to as “Hodge’s Smokers” gathered to protest the university’s campus smoking ban. The group lit up cigarettes and carried them, burning, all across Miami’s campus in protest of the newly enforced smoking ban that went into effect in August. While this protest was not the first negative reaction to the new policy, it was one of the largest. Students are not the only ones upset by this ban; staff members aren’t too thrilled either. However, the staff is doing a better job at adhering to the rules than the students(Reinbolt, 2008).
Months later, the university is still struggling with enforcing the ban. Students and staff are frequently spotted light up on university property. While some find the ban to be effective, others completely ignore it. As of December 2008, “According to the Office of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution, 33 students have been disciplined for violating the campus-wide smoking ban. Claire Wagner, director of news and public information, said no staff members have been reprimanded for smoking on campus” (Stenback, 2008). Wagner believes the purpose of the ban is being fulfilled.

INTERVIEW ANALYSIS
We interviewed director of communications for Miami University, Perry Richardson. Richardson has held his position for many years.
According to Richardson, Miami University joined the campus initiative to become completely smoke-free in the 2008-2009 academic year. Jeffrey Herbst was the first to form an ad hoc committee to petition to the University for the smoking ban. According to Richardson, “After credible research was conducted, the university complied and agreed to become 100 percent smoke-free.”
Miami is one of the few universities who have decided to treat the ban with an enforcement policy. Richardson said, “We believe enforcement will insure the greatest success of the ban.”
“While at first the ban may have caused some commotion on campus, we believe the students and staff have seen an improvement on campus, and therefore support the new policy,” said Richardson. However, Richardson believes that it may be too soon to determine if the new policy has caused smoking rates to decrease among students and faculty but he continues to remain hopeful.
Since the ban is still in its’ earlier stages, Richardson, deems that in time the university will develop better methods for enforcing the ban, hence keeping their students and staff healthier and their campus cleaner.
Upon conducting this interview we realized this is an issue many are not comfortable discussing. Whereas Richardson agreed to answer our questions, despite the fact that he only answered a couple of them and was very vague in his answers, the other professionals we contacted from the other universities chose not to comment at all on the topic. We believe this lack of cooperation may be due to the fact that the policy may not be functioning to its’ fullest potential just yet.
However, Richardson’s interview did provide us with some insight into the minds behind the smoke-free policy. We believe all three of the universities are acting in good faith in their attempts to rid the campus of cigarette trash and litter, and in an attempt to provide their students and staff with the learning and living environment they deserve.

34 comments:

Unknown said...

Katherine Matz

I am not a smoker and fully support the initiatives to create smoke-free college campuses. I think the universities of Buffalo, Arkansas and Miami were smart in attempting to implement this on their campuses. I like how the smoke-free initiatives of the colleges followed the action of the cities. This helps to create a completely smoke-free community. While their intentions are good, I think they had a very difficult task. To ban smoking on a huge campus seems very complicated, especially outdoors where it is hard to monitor. It seems that the colleges announced the ban but did not follow up with strong public relations campaigns.

I think the University of Arkansas did the best job in implementing their campaign. I like how they ran public service announcements. I think they would serve as reminders to the students that there is no smoking on campus. It was smart of them to use a student group to help promote their campaign. I also think it was smart of them to have 12 months to allow tobacco users to prepare for a tobacco-free campus through participation in cessation programs.

One issue I see with this case is that not many consequences for smoking on campuses were presented. The universities announced the ban and stated that its purpose was to create a healthy learning environment. It didn’t seem like they presented any consequences to students if they were caught smoking on campus, making the ban seem less serious. Arkansas stated this to be one of its main problems since the implementation of the plan. At Miami, the students even protested the cause by smoking on campus.

Giulia Carando said...

Brandon Bernola

I quit smoking 3 years ago and I know how great of a challenge it can be to kick the habit. I quit smoking because I got smart. I did some research and found out that smoking is actually bad for you and it will kill you. A lot of people my age think about the short term effects of everything. I happen to think about the long term. I may not have to best life in the world, but I like it and I want it to be as long and healthy as possible. I looked at some effects of smoke-free laws and I found that they are actually getting people to cut down.

The Pueblo Heart Study found that although 399 people were hospitalized for heart attacks before any smoke-free laws went into effect, that number dropped to 237 three years after the law's introduction, a 41 percent decline. This is proof that these laws are working, but to get a whole campus to be smoke-free is almost crazy talk.

I think there would be a riot outside of Old Main if Penn State tried to make this campus smoke-free. I can understand why a campus would want to be smoke-free, litter, the smell, loitering, etc., but I really do not think it’s fair. If the smoker is outside, away from buildings, and properly disposes their cigarette butts, I don’t see a problem. However, it would be awesome to have a smoke-free campus. Smoking is a crutch. It is a sign of weakness and if we could get that weakness out of Penn State it would show how strong and smart Penn State students are, but this task can’t be done overnight.

I like the way Arkansas present the smokers with a 12 month deadline to either quit smoking or just don’t smoke on campus, but I can see that causing some sort of hysteria. I don’t think that would be enough time to start a rule so great. I really like the way Miami did it. In 1993 they started banning smoking in areas and such. They banned more and more as the years went on then by 2008 they were completely smoke-free. I like the way they eased into in.

Anonymous said...

Kelly McNulty

I enjoyed reading about this case study because I think trying to have a smoke free campus is a great idea, considering the harmful effects of smoking and second-hand smoke.

I thought the University at Buffalo's policy was the best because not only did they announce their plan for the 2009-2010 school year in 2008 to give people time to adjust, they worked in collaboration with other organizations committed to ending tobacco use.

The fact that the university would also help current smokers quit the habit by providing free nicotine patches and gum was smart because it showed that not only are they implementing a policy, but they care about the students and faculty who will have trouble following the rules. According to drugstore.com (http://www.drugstore.com/templates/stdplist/default.asp?catid=9348&aid=336064&aparam=nicotine%20patch&scinit1=nicotine%20patch),
a box of fourteen nicotine patches cost anywhere from thirty-three to fifty-three dollars.

So although according to the case study, half of current college smokers would like to quit, it may be too expensive for them. By not only enforcing a smoking ban but providing the means for those who currently smoke to quit, the University at Buffalo gave its current smokers the ability to change because of the policy and not to complain about it.

Giulia Carando said...

Melanie Loomis

It is interesting to look at the policy that affects students at this Penn State University Park campus. I do not smoke but I am in full support of Penn State’s stance on not becoming a smoke-free campus. According to a Daily Collegian article printed last September, Penn State would not participate along with 14 other state-owned universities to endorse a total smoking ban. This decision is based on the massive size of the University Park campus, according to Jill Shockey, university spokeswomen. The policy at this university is that if one owns something privately then a smoking ban may be enacted. This is fair because it gives students options and diversity, which is what people look for when attending a huge state school (Whelan. 2008).
However, I think the reason why this smoking ban hasn’t passed is not because university officials want to give students options and diversity. It is a new concept to Penn State and evaluating how Miami University, another large state-school, accomplished such feats is awesome to look at. I think this policy is struggling due to the lack of comment from Miami’s University officials and don’t foresee it lasting in the coming years.


Whelan , Aubrey. (2008, September 25). Officials: Campus will not become smoke-free. . The
Daily Collegian Online. Retrieved March 1, 2009, from http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2008/09/25/officials_campus_will_not_beco.aspx?print=1

Giulia Carando said...

Brian Heenan

To put it simply, I hate smoking. I can't stand the smell. I can't stand ash trays. I can't stand cigarette butts. I hate pretty much everything about smoking. I don't have a problem with people who do smoke, but I do have a problem with the environment that some smokers create, which is why I am in full support of smoke-free college campuses. Before I read over the campaigns, I thought that a campaign like this would not work on a large campus like Penn State. It didn't seem feasible and it seems that every other student I see on campus is smoking a quick cig between classes. I would think there would be a huge backlash from the smoking community. I also questioned how one would try and reach the target audience with a smoke-free campaign. It was interesting to me that cig companies try and target girls because they can lose weight and skip meals with smoking. That is horrible. What does that say about society and how we view women? It's one thing to target girls if they are the primary smokers, but to say that you are targeting them because girls smoke so they can skip meals and lose weight is wrong.

I thought that the smoke-free plan would work better on smaller campuses. But as for the separate college campaigns, I think Penn State could learn best from following Miami's foot steps. It seems that their implementation was very well done and thought out, with tons of research to back everything up. And obviously Miami is a very large university like Penn State.

Here's a preview of what life could be like if penn state went smoke free... A smoke-free campus was the brainchild of longtime college president Martha Nesbitt, herself a former smoker. "It's just a healthier place to be," says Nesbitt, "because as you go in a building, you're not going to have to go through smoke. When you walk out, you don't see cigarette butts littered around. It's just a cleaner, healthier campus."

Im on board

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Allison Kershner

As the case study explains, implementing a smoke-free policy on college campuses creates challenges for university officials. One of these challenges is communicating new regulations effectively. The vice chancellor of student affairs for the University of Arkansas stated that the college failed to create enough signage and is now making up for it through posters and other signs. I have noticed that this is a problem which also affects Penn State University. Before a bright blue sign was mounted at the top of the stairs in front of the Boucke Building on campus, many students and faculty members smoked in this designated smoke-free area. The white paper flyers which had been the previous warning were not effective in relaying the message.

Another challenge for university officials is to prepare student smokers for the behavior change which the new policy creates in their daily lives. According to an article published on mndaily.com (http://www.mndaily.com/2008/09/30/u-looking-smoke-free-campus), the University of Minnesota, Duluth campus decided to go smoke-free in 2007. But looking back on the campaign, the university would have done one thing differently. Dori Becker, a health educator at UMD Health Services, said that students are having a hard time adjusting to the two-year-old, smoke-free policy. “Last spring I still saw people smoking around campus,” she said. “You wouldn’t have even known there was a smoking policy in place.” Becker stated that the university should have ran an educational campaign prior to implementing the smoke-free policy in order to prepare student smokers for the change.

Giulia Carando said...

Shin Yoshida

I was raised strictly in a family who’s against smoking since I was little, so I never attempted to smoke. However, getting involved with several philanthropic organizations in college helped me to learn the long-term effect of smoking. For instance, when I was a sophomore, I participated in a smoke-free campaign by the University Health in Altoona campus. During the campaign, I was working at a display table that exposed a damaged human lung from smoking. The table showed two human lungs, one healthy lung and another that was affected by smoking for more than 30 years. The damaged lung was completely covered with ash-like black surface, while the healthy lung had bright pink surface. The damaged surface had several cracks in between the veins preventing the lung to exhale the air harder. I thought this visual exposure to a damaged lung was very powerful and grotesque enough to terrify people that smoking is a serious issue that could cause people to deaths. I think this is what each university was lacking in their campaign. As MTS mentioned, it is sometimes effective to show the statistics of human deaths to notify people on issue. But in a case like smoking, it involves more strategies than statistics because majority of the people already know the threats of smoking to their body. Therefore, in order to make the tactics more realistic I think visual effects are important strategies.
I think it is also important to have a campus-wide event, like THON, that would involve many students to participate. According to the American Cancer Society, they encourage every student and community in the University to participate on philanthropic event called Relay for Life. In Penn State Altoona, students would walk around the campus for 24 hours exposed to flyers and stands that shows the statistics of smoking effects to the body. It will be a great effect once this kind of event are tied with school spirits, like how THON always raises donation for the children.

American Cancer Society, Relay for Life: http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/about

Michael said...

As an asthmatic, I personally would have quite a bit to gain if Penn State had a smoking ban. Of course, even if Penn State had plans to start a smoke-free campus, I wouldn't be here long enough to see it in effect. However, even though I would give my full support to said ban, I can't help but to agree that on a campus as large as ours that any hope for a smoking ban would and will be abandoned. It also seems that if enough people think it's impossible that we will create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Like some of our classmates, I would be curious to see how well these bans are enforced. I am frankly surprised that The Miami University would go as far as to threaten criminal charges for offenders. It just seems to me that too many smokers would wave their handy-dandy bill of rights around, screaming "bullshit!" and proceed to stuff the bill with tobacco and smoke it.

There is this misconception in America that we have true "freedom". In reality, every "freedom" that we are guaranteed has limitations. One common trend among our freedoms is that we are free so long as we do not cause harm to others or limit others' freedoms. By this idea, do people have the "right to smoke a *legal* substance"? Sure. But, what about the harmful effects of second-hand smoke? Where can you draw the line on how free someone is to smoke in public?

According to an article on news.bbc.co.uk, cigarette smoke may be more of an environmental pollutant than diesel exhaust. An experiment was done to compare emissions from a truck with diesel fuel in a closed garage with three filter cigarettes. That's right three cigarettes. Guess what? The cigarettes resulted in ten times the pollution.

Proof that cars make better roomates than smokers.

I do think that it was a smart move to claim that the smoking bans were not only to raise health conditions for all students, faculty and staff, but also to help smokers quit. According to an article on ABC News' Web site, smoking bans in workplaces have resulted in drops in cigarette consumption. About half of the drop was because people were cutting back on smoking. The remaining half was because people had quit smoking due to a reduction in smoking cues, and an increased hassle behind it.

Jess said...

Jess Mikula

As a non-smoker, I fully support an entirely smoke-free campus. I think it leads to a smoke-free community. However, a full implementation, like that of the universities of Buffalo, Arkansas and Miami, would be extremely difficult, especially at Penn State. Since many of the bars downtown are now smoke-free, you can see the smokers flocking outside. But what happens when people are forbidden from smoking on campus? Wouldn't it just move the smokers onto College Ave. instead? It seems like it would just concentrate all of the smokers in one area.

Another issue I have with the campaign is the fact that there isn't enforcement. An honor system wouldn't be an effective means of curbing smoking, especially on a large campus. I understand that the plan is to create a more healthy learning environment, but what incentive do the students have to follow the ban? What are the consequences for smoking on campus? All three of the universities mentioned made students aware of the smoking ban, but it doesn't seem like they followed up with strong tactics. Smoking is a habitual practice, and unless a message is extremely sticky, that practice isn't going to be easily changed.

I do think the cessation programs for smokers were a great idea to get people used to not smoking rather than just expecting them to stop cold turkey.

Unknown said...

A smoke-free campus is something I think would be better for everyone’s health, but we would difficult to implement on such are large campus. When I first came to college I noticed how many students smoke and was shocked, so I was not surprised that the percentage of college students who smoke is much higher than the general public. It was interesting to see how companies advertise specifically to college students and in particular certain groups like art students. I currently live with a smoker the first time in my life and it is a smelly, expensive and destructive addiction. I would appreciate our campus going smoke free even if I can’t change my roommate’s behavior.

Of the universities that have gone smoke free I thought University of Arkansas planned the most effectively to create a successful campaign. The campaign’s tactics including helping current smokers quit a year in advance of the smoke-free campus. This was excellent planning, because it takes into account that smoking is an addiction and is hard to quit. Making people work and study without their cigarettes could be problematic. By helping the school’s smokers with cessation problems prior to the smoke-free policy the university prepared member of the university community who would be most opposed to this ban.

I think that Miami was correct in using enforcement of the ban through potential legal action if someone does smoke in the banned areas on campus. This is not something that can just have a sign saying smoke free area people will still smoke. Signs also must be clear and visible to people for signage to be effective. UA didn’t have enforcement and when the campaign was evaluated people wanted this enforcement. When smoking laws change like in Europe for example the UK and France made it illegal to smoke inside. Both of these countries have a large population of smokers and an image of smoky pubs and cafes. I lived in London for a semester and the bar down the road from my building had a smoking room in the back where smokers could smoke because on a local patron level the smoking ban was not supported. This is a perfect time for enforcement of the ban to be done. If the authorities pressed charges against the bar for breaking the law the proprietor would have changed his ways if his business was being seriously hurt.
Laura Henderson
Penn State does not think they will go smoke free according to a Daily Collegian article from Jan. 27, 2009 the Vice President for Student Affairs does not think Penn State will go smoke free. The administration is looking at other Big 10 unversites like University of Indiana for precedent, this school started with stricter smokng policies and according to the article that isn’t working very well for Indiana.

Giulia Carando said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Giulia Carando said...

Christi Pluta

I really thought this was a great topic for a case study. I don't think enough people think about a smoke-free campus. After I read this post, I took some time to talk to my friends about what they would think about a smoke- free campus. The smokers I talked to thought it was absolutely ridiculous and if you are smoking outside, people who don't like it can move somewhere else where there isn't smoke. A few chimed in and said they would do it anyway, even if Penn State was a smoke free campus. The non-smokers I talked to could go either way. Some were bothered, some weren't. Personally, I would like to have a smoke free campus. Like Michael, I have asthma. It would be nice to not have to breathe that in when I am walking to class and stuck behind a smoker. Sometimes, you're in lecture and you have to sit next to someone that SMELLS like they were working in the actualy cigarette factory, I think it is disgusting.

I really liked that Miami took an initiative with a smoke free campus. Although it took a while and they did it step by step, I think that they were definitely moving in the right direction. Also, I really liked the repercussions they enforced for people who did not obey this new rule for the school. The could be arrested and even be denied access to Miami U. I think people might take that into consideration when they light up a cigarette. I'm surprised only 33 people had been disciplined. I thought it would have been a lot more due to the amount of people who smoke. I couldn't even begin to imagine what would happen in Happy Valley if they put a smoking ban on campus...

Unknown said...

Yellow-stained teeth... chronic bad breathe... lingering body odors... Certainly all characteristics and attributes I look for in my next girlfriend (cough, cough).

Although I, and my respiratory organs, would love the idea of enjoying the health benefits of a smoke-free college campus, the feasibility of the having every smoker on campus break their habits (not to mention their rights) would be darn near impossible.

While I, myself, do not like anything about the idea of shortening my lifespan, I have many friends who do smoke. And to be honest with you, I have no problem with it. It is a legal substance and what they do to their bodies is their business. And as long as they perform their activities in a respectful mannerism and are not bothering anyone else, who am I to tell them that they can not enjoy their liberties? We simply can’t. To implement a campaign like this on such a large campus would face multiple challenges, such as enforcement and sustainability, as you can see in our Miami University case.

As a large, public institution, I believe that the only type of campaign one can realistically do to stop smoking is to raise awareness and inform the students of the consequences of smoking. But if we were to model a smoke-free campaign on our campus from the three college campus cases, I believe that the most effective case study was the University of Arkansas. Not only did they forewarn the smoking community, but they understood that ditching an addiction isn’t a process done overnight. So to respect the smokers on campus, they gave them a 12-month window to ditch the cancer-breeding habit. An effective and respectful strategy. I also liked how they offered cessation programs for students to guide them on their recovery process from nicotine.

Furthermore, if we were to implement a smoke-free campus initiative, similar to the enforcement tactics of Miami University, we should focus on severe consequences for those who violate the program, such as hefty fines. That would be one of the only ways to get students to understand the seriousness of our efforts.

Unknown said...

Smoke-free campuses are definitely something that should continue to be supported and adopted by colleges across the country. The ideas of the highlighted campaigns in the blog each showed some good ways to go about making their campus smoke-free. After reading each of the campaign from the three universities I felt that Miami University did the best job of trying to change its campus into a smoke-free one. The Miami University conducted surveys initially which is something that needs to be done in order to get feedback on how students feel about the situation to begin with. Students are the ones on campus the majority of the time, therefore its important to find the main reasons for what students agree or disagree with implementing a smoke-free campus. As covered in the blog, University of Arkansas is having trouble with its smoke-free campus campaign, and I believe that the largest reason for that is because of the lack of enforcement. Many students feel that they are able to ignore authority or just become resistant to authority when they are in college. Smoking is a habit and something people have a desire to do throughout the day. Unless there is a strict enforcement of the rule, I believe that many students will continue to smoke and will ignore the campaign ideas. While compliance and mutual respect is a softer approach, I think that when it comes to the target audience and the factor of smoking, a harder approach must be applied to the situation. The application of different cessation programs and offering cessation resources to students is also very beneficial to the outcome of the campaign. The American Cancer Society encourages the Smoke-free College Campus Initiative and supports the Great American Smoke Out. According to its website, the Great American Smoke Out is a perfect opportunity to “for smokers to prove to themselves that they can quit for a day, in the hopes of quitting for good.” Also, the website highlights that “The Great American Smoke Out is the optimal time to reinforce prevention messages for students who may be contemplating starting to smoke.” I believe that offering programs and resources to help students quit will allow for more success with the smoke-free campaigns. The less students that smoke the easier it will be for students to comply and the better the campaign will work.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/COM/content/div_Northwest/COM_5_1x_Smoke-Free_College_Campus_Initiative.asp

Ellen said...
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Ellen said...
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Ellen said...
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Ellen said...

Intially, I admit that I did not think smoke free college campuses were a good idea. Though I am not a smoker, I thought a ban would be unfair to those who are. However, I have changed my mind. Smoking bans are becoming commonplace in cities and states across the country. New York and New Jersey have implemented serious campaigns. Other states, cities and, inevitably, college campuses are bound to follow.

A smoke free campus would be hard to enforce, but I do believe it can be done step-by-step. The "trash-free" classroom initiative was initially sort of a joke, but professors became involved and cleanliness has definitely improved.

I think it will be important for Penn State, if they choose to implement such a campaign, to maintain a balance of serious enforcement and student cooperation. As we have seen from other campuses, neither will work alone. I think a program like Penn State's clean classroom initiative (lots of signs, enforcement) would persuade students and faculty to comply.

Additionally, rules and "laws" are different on the campus of Penn State than in the downtown State College area because they are under different authority. Penn State, as a private entity, should be able to enforce whatever rules they see fit.

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