Ohio University students aren’t exactly lit up over the possibility of OU becoming a smoke-free campus even as other Ohio universities change their smoking policies.
OU’s Campus Involvement Center set up visual displays in Baker University Center last week urging students to consider the dilemma of “bucks versus butts.” The display focused on the cost of using tobacco.
“This year, we partnered with the health department here in Athens, and they also had materials available on the dangers of tobacco use and ways to quit, and that was kind of the main focus,” said Terry Koons, associate director of the OU Campus Involvement Center.
National statistics show an average smoker buys about nine packs per week, said Mary Kate Gallagher, a junior studying community health who works as a peer health educator for the center. That translates into a cost of about $56 per week for the average smoker at OU, she said.
Last year, the center surveyed OU students about their preferences regarding a change in a smoking policy, Koons said.
A smoke-free campus would ban products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes and hookahs, and a fully tobacco-free campus would add chewing tobacco and electronic cigarettes to that list.
The center hoped that the surveyed students would vote to have a smoke-free or tobacco-free campus, Koons said, but that was not the case.
Most students said they preferred the current policy, which prohibits smoking within 25 feet of all residence halls and dining facilities and within 10 feet of all other university buildings.
This policy went into effect in 2009 after the Ohio legislature passed the Smoke-Free Workplace Act in 2006. The law states no tobacco smoke is permitted in public places or places of employment.
“I don’t think (a smoke-free campus) is necessary,” said Kevin McConnell, a senior studying education. “Honestly, when you walk down the sidewalk, you should be free to do anything you want.”
McConnell, a smoker, added that he didn’t have a problem abiding by current rules and smoking a set distance from university buildings — except when it is raining.
Koons said the 10- and 25-feet no-smoking zones were created by OU administrators and are not a requirement of Ohio law.
The university received two smoking complaints last year, said Christine Sheets, executive director of Residential Housing. One of the violations occurred in Scott Quadrangle, and the other was outside the Wolfe Street Apartments on South Green.
“(The complaints) just indicated inadequate signs posted, and we immediately reacted to that and put signs up,” Sheets said. “We figured we had two violations, so we should be proactive in looking at the other possible places.”
Residential Housing employees will spend part of Winter Intersession applying no-smoking decals to all residence-hall entrances and exits.
Although OU’s student body made its stance clear in the informal “election” last year, policies at Ohio’s other public institutions are changing.
Miami University instituted a smoking ban in 2008.
“The focus was obviously on cigarette smoke, but I believe it also ended up extending to other tobacco products,” said David Creamer, vice president for finance and business services at Miami.
Creamer said the widely supported policy was put in place to create a healthier environment and that there is no fine in place or staff to monitor compliance.
“We haven’t done anything that would be heavy-handed in regard to enforcement,” he added.
At Ohio State University, a student group called Buckeyes Against Butts is working on a proposal to make OSU an entirely tobacco-free campus. Danielle Grospitch, a second-year graduate student studying public health at OSU, is leading the campaign.
Grospitch drafted a preliminary policy that is being reviewed by various departments. She said the next step would be to discuss policy changes with the students.
“We had actually hoped to get those surveys done and do focus groups, especially with tobacco users on campus. … It hasn’t yet come to fruition,” she said.
There are seven Ohio colleges with smoke-free campuses, including Hocking College.
Gallagher said she thinks the new efforts at other universities might rouse support for a smoke-free policy at OU. Last year, she helped form a Student Senate committee with administrators and students to examine OU’s smoking policies, but said it didn’t see much support.
“We need to see these students who are really excited or who really have a vested interest in a smoke-free campus because, without the student involvement, we’re not going to be able to push this through,” Gallagher said.
OU President Roderick McDavis said he had spoken informally with various students and faculty about the possibility of a smoke-free campus.
“I’m open to having that conversation and would be supportive of moving in that direction,” McDavis said.
One of the goals of the Campus Involvement Center and Student Senate’s efforts is to increase tobacco education, Koons said.
“Quite honestly, it would be much easier to have a smoke-free campus than restricted feet,” he said.
bv111010@ohiou.edu
