Campus-wide smoking ban is still in discussion

The task force issued a survey to gain more opinion on a ban.

By Lindsey Underwood

Published Feb. 20, 2007

After months of silence regarding efforts to change MU's smoking policy, the Campus Smoking Policy Task Force sent a survey via e-mail to gain more opinions about the current policy in place.

The task force held forums in the fall to gain opinions from students and staff members about the change in policy.

The task force listened to opinions but will not take a side on the issue in order to be representative of general opinion.

"Not much research has been done on how second-hand smoke outdoors affects health," task force Co-chairman David Currey said. "Overall, we have no stance."

The forums in the fall were not attended by a significant number of students, faculty members or teachers, although the majority advocated for a revision of the policy to make it stricter.

Citing public health as their motive, ban supporters argued that a stricter policy might encourage students to quit smoking.

While MU is considering a campus-wide smoking ban, the task force is utilizing both the forum and the survey to gain a better understanding about how those affected would feel about a change.

The current smoking policy generally restricts smoking to the outdoors and places that are specifically designated as smoking areas. The new proposal could prohibit all smoking in most areas on campus, including entrances to buildings.

Rachel Anderson, Missouri Students Association president and former president of Peers Against Secondhand Smoke, said the organization is advocating either a completely smoke-free campus or one with designated smoking areas.

"I would personally advocate to have designated smoking areas over a completely smoke-free campus," Anderson said.

She said making students walk off campus to smoke would not be "wise or safe."

Many student smokers have expressed frustration about the proposal and oppose it.

"I would really be angry if I couldn't smoke on campus," freshman Brad Kast said. "I live on campus, and it would just be really inconvenient."

Other students present at the forums argued that changing the policy and completely prohibiting smoking on campus would intrude on their basic rights.

PASS has been active in voicing this stance by doing things such as selling T-shirts on Valentine's Day which read "Kiss Me, I'm a Non-Smoker" and providing information in the Student Health Center.

Unlike the change in the smoking policy in the city of Columbia, there is little that students can do to prevent a change in policy, aside from sharing their opinions with the provided outlets.

PASS has plans to make a presentation to the task force to reinforce their stance on changing the smoking policy.