Brehm approves new smoking policy

In an amendment to the 1993 campus smoking policy, IU-Bloomington Chancellor Sharon Brehm has decided to ban smoking within thirty feet from all campus buildings, including dorms.\nThe new regulation goes into effect on Monday.\nVice Chancellor and Dean of Students Richard McKaig and Associate Vice President Daniel Rives assisted Brehm in forming a 15-member task force, made up of faculty, students and staff. The task force met all summer to discuss the issue.\nEven though she said she expects some backlash from angry smokers, Brehm said she feels the policy is a fair compromise.\n"I'm an ex-smoker myself and so I know how you feel," she said. "I know how hard it is to quit, but I think it is a good policy. There are a lot of people who have complained about second-hand smoke on campus and there are a lot of studies on second-hand smoke and I think it will really benefit the campus"