Arizona State University students react to smoking ban
Oct 10, 2012, 8:23 PM | Updated: 8:24 pm
TEMPE, Ariz. – Starting August 1, 2013, smokers will have to find another place to light up.
According to ASU’s official policy, “ASU recognizes that smoking is a public health hazard and is dedicated to providing a healthy, comfortable and productive living, learning and working environment for students, employees and visitors.”
The ban prohibits tobacco on “university property, facilities, grounds, parking structures, university-owned vehicles and structures owned or leased by the university,” as stated in that same policy.
University students have mixed reactions about the change. Freshman student Adam Olsen said there should be a compromise.
“Perhaps designated smoking areas instead of a full on ban. We should find common ground to accommodate both interests,” Olsen said.
Others students like Anna Miranda said they welcome the change because of exposure to secondhand smoke.
“I think it’s really good because I suffer with breathing problems and it interferes with my breathing,” Miranda said.
As of now, the policy requires staff and students to smoke in designated areas or be at least 25 feet from doorways, however some students claim many people don’t respect the boundaries.
According to American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, “there are now at least 814 100% smoke-free campuses with no exemptions. Residential housing facilities are included, where they exist. Of these, 608 have a 100% tobacco-free policy.”
