USC smoking policy accepted
Despite other colleges' bans, students are satisfied with USC's smoking policy.
Ariel Edwards-Levy
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: News
The University of Iowa announced it would be making its campus smoke-free, becoming one of 105 colleges nationwide that have instituted the policy - a policy that has yet to gain traction at USC.
There are currently no initiatives toward changing USC's policy, which prohibits smoking in all enclosed buildings, facilities and vehicles owned or leased by the university, said Linda Klingerman, the USC director of policy development.
Smoking is also prohibited during indoor athletic and other university-sponsored events.
"I haven't heard any discussion about making it stricter," she said.
The initiative to ban smoking at UI started more than two years ago, when the hospital associated with the university banned smoking, said Sue Buckley, the associate vice president for finance and university services and director of human resources at UI.
UI first instituted an interim ban on smoking within 25 feet of buildings, and then formed a committee to decide whether the entire campus should go smoke-free.
After the committee decided the campus would go smoke-free July 2009, it recommended steps the campus should take to educate students about the policy and what resources to devote to helping students quit smoking.
Communication with students and employees was key to the process, she said.
The implementation of the smoking ban at UI took a lot of work.
"If somebody thinks they can just turn around and implement this in a month, I'd say not a chance," Buckley said.
USC's current smoking rules, established in 1993 at the initiative of the Office of Risk Management, have been changed only minimally since they were first implemented, Klingerman said.
Some buildings, however, such as Leavey Library, have increased smoking restrictions by banning it outside of the building.
"Our policy is that 20 feet away from any entrance, you can smoke," said Doug Lichvar, assistant director of Leavey Library.
There are currently no initiatives toward changing USC's policy, which prohibits smoking in all enclosed buildings, facilities and vehicles owned or leased by the university, said Linda Klingerman, the USC director of policy development.
Smoking is also prohibited during indoor athletic and other university-sponsored events.
"I haven't heard any discussion about making it stricter," she said.
The initiative to ban smoking at UI started more than two years ago, when the hospital associated with the university banned smoking, said Sue Buckley, the associate vice president for finance and university services and director of human resources at UI.
UI first instituted an interim ban on smoking within 25 feet of buildings, and then formed a committee to decide whether the entire campus should go smoke-free.
After the committee decided the campus would go smoke-free July 2009, it recommended steps the campus should take to educate students about the policy and what resources to devote to helping students quit smoking.
Communication with students and employees was key to the process, she said.
The implementation of the smoking ban at UI took a lot of work.
"If somebody thinks they can just turn around and implement this in a month, I'd say not a chance," Buckley said.
USC's current smoking rules, established in 1993 at the initiative of the Office of Risk Management, have been changed only minimally since they were first implemented, Klingerman said.
Some buildings, however, such as Leavey Library, have increased smoking restrictions by banning it outside of the building.
"Our policy is that 20 feet away from any entrance, you can smoke," said Doug Lichvar, assistant director of Leavey Library.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Donald DiSilvestri
posted 3/13/08 @ 5:22 AM PST
Hi-This is just another over-reaction foisted upon smokers.Next thing we expect is to ban smoking in one's own home!Smokers should always be considerate of non-smokers as a courtesy,but this smacks of a police-state!
dsilvest
Donald DiSilvestri
posted 3/13/08 @ 7:03 AM PST
Smokers are having all their rights taken away by non-smokers.While I believe most smokers do show courtesy to non-smokers,the latter are never satisfied!Next thing we'll see is ban against smoking in one's own house!
Mike Sage
posted 3/13/08 @ 9:04 AM PST
It is hard to understand how USC officials -- who are supposed to be educated, knowledgeable people -- could be unaware of the problems faced daily by students like Kim Pachecho as tobacco smoke fills the air that people must breath. (Continued…)
J
posted 3/13/08 @ 5:58 PM PST
In 2007, the American Lung Association declared that Los Angeles has the most polluted air of any city in the United States, and it isn't from cigarettes. (Continued…)
Phil Nelson
posted 3/13/08 @ 7:30 PM PST
You wouldn't think that USC would be behind so many other universities and colleges when it comes to having a strong smoke free policy. With 105 campuses nationwide already having a strong policy on the issue, you'd think that USC would be at least considering adopting a stronger policy soon. (Continued…)
Zilch the Trojan
posted 3/18/08 @ 12:42 PM PST
get off your soapbox for god's sake. anti-smoking campaigns are money issues (like everything else) not health issues. your posting says it all, organizations want to reduce the amount of medical bills they have to pay and thus they want to curb smoking. (Continued…)
Maureen Osborne
posted 3/20/08 @ 2:54 PM PST
if people are paying so much money to go to a damn school, they should at least have their lungs and heart protected by not having to bypass smokers on campus. (Continued…)
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