Smoking policy a drag

Last year, the University instituted a policy that said smokers have to stay 30 feet away from doors, open windows and covered walkways. And for a while, it worked. The University got so into its new policy that it bought new cigarette receptacles to mount 30 feet from the buildings, so smokers would know where to stand. The University even put little signs on all the doors detailing the new "30-foot rule." However, there are several problems with the policy that the University has yet to rectify, which are quite annoying and unhealthy for us non-smokers and uncurious to smokers.\nThe first problem with the policy is that at places such as Ballantine Hall, the cigarette containers are within 10 feet of the doors. But the policy clearly states that smokers must be 30 feet away from the building. Because these receptacles are within 30 feet of the building, it sends mixed messages to smokers about the policy. It also tells non-smokers that they can't complain because the University decided that smokers can be within 30 feet of the building if the cigarette containers are there. Smokers also don't care because you never hear anyone complain about the smokers, and if they do complain, they just say something under their breath; if they can breathe at all. Most non-smokers don't tell smokers to move because they either believe it is not their job to do so, or they are too busy trying to get to class to be able to say something. \nNot only are the receptacles too close to the building, but IU still does not have a way to enforce the policy and make people move away from the building. \nIn 2003, an Indiana Daily Student editorial complained that the University had no guidelines on how to enforce the policy. A year later, there is still no policy on how to enforce the rule. Smokers whom I have asked to move just shrug it off, or move but move back when they think I'm out of sight. This is a particular problem at the north entrance to Forest A-Tower. Even if it's nice outside, there are people who stand almost right next to the door and fill the stairwell with the smell of cigarettes. However, I've never seen a residential assistant tell these people to move. This also sends a mixed message to smokers, for they believe they can smoke anywhere, and there is no problem with that course of action. And why not think that? The University isn't going to enforce the policy.\nThe University has also not come up with a plan about how to shelter smokers from the weather. Not only is this an inconvenience for smokers, but it's also an increasing problem for non-smokers. Every time it rains, snows or is cold, smokers huddle against doors to stay warm. This causes their smoke to enter the building. This is a problem in places such as Ballantine, where the smoke rises to the third floor, because the whole reason for the policy was to prevent that very problem. Students who don't smoke shouldn't have to smell the smoke, hence the whole policy in the first place. As a result, smokers have to smoke by the buildings because of the rain even though it's against the rules. So not only is this confusing to smokers, it also shows how the policy is discourteous to smokers during bad weather. \nI don't blame the smokers, because, like all people, they are just doing what takes the least effort. And why not -- if the University doesn't really care? So, the University either needs to give the smoking ban teeth and build smoking huts or get rid of the policy, because it's ineffective, at best.