The Observer, September 21, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 4
New policy to limit cigarette smoking on campus
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Non-smokers may breathe a healthy sigh of relief that USG's smoking referendum has led to the implementation of stringent smoking policies. Beginning in October, smoking will be restricted to designated areas while the rest of the Case campus remains smoke-free.
In the referendum vote last January that drew more participants than recent USG elections, students voted to assign specific smoking areas on campus. The other options included a complete ban of smoking campus-wide and a ban on smoking under overhangs, on steps or balconies, or near doors.
There are some grumblings over the voting procedure and its fairness.
"Smokers and others who don't care to see a full ban enforced were duped by the three choices into dividing themselves between two near-identical options, thereby losing any chance at a majority, while anti-smoking voters gained an easy victory by having only one option," said Kyle Napierkowski.
The new regulations on smoking will be implemented on Oct. 1 campus-wide. There will be clearly identified areas for smokers, with currently three areas on Southside, four on Northside, and a handful of various locations between the two extremes.
"I have really tried to make sure that the areas are convenient for smokers but not in the high traffic areas for non-smokers . . . There are no smoking areas near the health sciences buildings or hospital," said Vice President of Student Life Myles Nickolich.
Segregating the smokers out of the way of most students poses a different problem, however.
"This is an urban campus where one has to be extremely careful of walking alone or even in small groups at night, and the new ban could pose a greater security risk than the benefits it is seeking," said Laura Crawford, pointing out a potential risk of the new policy.
There will be police officers on the look-out for violators, though signs and flyers will be posted all through the campus reminding would-be smokers.
"Case Police will enforce the new policy by first issuing a warning, and then a fine," said Nickolich.
Nickolich also stressed that the smoking policy is not set in stone. It will be, and should be, molded by the people it affects. Therefore, if a designated smoking area is inconvenient for smokers, USG should be made aware of the problem, and the location will most likely be shifted elsewhere. Similarly, if a smoking area is allowing too much smoke to enter buildings, USG will relocate the smoking area.
But many students don't see any potential good in the policy.
"I don't think designated areas will make such a big difference. People are going to smoke wherever they want.," said Katie Kirkpatrick.
In addition to the initial smoking referendum last winter, USG has taken care to conduct surveys with faculty and staff to construct the final version of the smoking policy.
"I really think that this policy is a great compromise between the smokers' and non-smokers' opinions," said Nickolich.
However, some students find the new smoking policy to be an overeager attempt by USG to appease the non-smoker majority on campus.
"I am personally not a smoker, and I appreciate that students are taking the initiative to reduce secondhand smoke risk along with discouraging unhealthy behavior, but I think the ban is going a little far. . . This no longer resembles a risk-reducing ban and instead attempts to pass a value judgment about whether or not smoking is acceptable behavior. Smokers, be courteous. Non-smokers, get off the high horse," said Crawford.
"Case, being a private institution, has the right to determine whether or not smoking is allowed on its grounds, and as such, should continue to offer students that smoke the right to do so freely. Smoking is a personal choice and it is wrong to forbid it in most areas of campus because in doing so you are detracting from that person's personal rights and freedom," said Imran Baig.
In addition to the new smoking policy, the university is now offering smoking cessation programs free of charge to all members of the Case community.
