Tobacco

The Office of Residence Life recognizes the need to create and maintain an environment which sustains and enhances the general health and well-being of its residents, staff, visitors, and the safety of its property. For that reason, the department strongly discourages the use of tobacco products on campus by providing as close to a tobacco-free work environment as feasible. Consistent with the spirit and intent of this policy, should conflicts arise between individuals who choose to use tobacco and those who do not, the rights of those who do not will prevail.

Rationale

The Surgeon General of the United States has determined that tobacco usage is the largest preventable cause of illness and premature death in the United States. It is associated annually with the unnecessary deaths of over 350,000 Americans. New research findings, moreover, indicate that nonsmokers who are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke are also at increased risk of illness and death.

Regulations

1. Tobacco use is prohibited in every Student Housing building, including student residences, as well as in the Residence Life-managed university vehicles. Students found to have been smoking in their room or apartment will be charged a $50 fee and may be assessed a fee to cover professional cleaning costs of the room, shampooing of the carpeting, and dry cleaning of the draperies.
2. No smoking should occur within 20 feet of public entrances, or where others have no choice but to come within 20 feet of the smoker in order to access a public entrances, such as on the Banfield Hall entry bridge or on the front steps of the Lodge. Smokers are also asked to smoke away from open windows. Those smoking outside should dispose of cigarette butts in the proper receptacles or ash trays.
3. Residents smoking on apartment porches should be courteous of neighbors and roommates who need to enter or leave their apartments. Residents are responsible for proper disposal of cigarette butts outside apartments. A coffee can or other such butt can may be stored on the porch. Smokers of an apartment that is found at the end of the academic year to have cigarette butts under the snow grate or around the porch that must be removed by staff will be charged a cleaning fee. Similarly, they will be charged for any repainting that needs to be done on the porches due to burns and cigarettes being put out on walls, steps, or railings.

Compliance

1. The success of this policy depends on the thoughtfulness, consideration and cooperation of smokers and nonsmokers. All persons share the responsibility for compliance.
2. Individuals who are observed in violation of this policy should be requested to comply. If further action is necessary, the matter should be reported to a staff member.

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