Ohio State U. considers a campus-wide smoking ban

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State University is flirting with the idea of a new policy that would prohibit smoking on campus.\nThe Office of Human Resources sent a memo to university officials asking them to explore two options: prohibiting smoking anywhere on university property, or continuing its current practice that bans smoking within 25 feet of doors, windows and air intakes.\nThe OSU Medical Center is completely tobacco-free, and contiguous programs, such as Health Sciences and the College of Biological Sciences, followed suit last July.\nNo timetable has been set for a policy change, said Eunice Hornsby, a Human Resources program director.\n“The more significant the change, the longer the implementation horizon would be,” Hornsby said. “We won’t finish these discussions until fall quarter, so the earliest any change would be is January 2008.”\nThe consideration of a campuswide smoking ban has become a controversial issue among students. Junior Ben Atkinson said considering such a policy is ludicrous.\n“It’s ridiculous because it’s open air,” Atkinson said. “Smoking is not illegal, and this is one more step in making it obsolete.”\nFreshman Alex Arsham said he would feel sorry for smokers.\n“I would feel bad for students and faculty who would have to waste time leaving campus, especially if they were on a tight schedule,” Arsham said.\nThere are 43 college campuses in the U.S. that have adopted smoke-free policies, according to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights. OSU is the third Big Ten institution to consider a ban, along with the University of Iowa and IU.\nNot all students are opposed to the potential smoking ban. Junior Bryan Shields wholeheartedly supports the restriction.\n“Although my choice is not to smoke, I still suffer the effects when I walk through clouds of smoke,” Shields said. “I shouldn’t have to live like that.”\nPotential benefits of an adopted smoking ban include encouraging individuals within the community to quit or reduce smoking and eliminating smoke-related trash around campus. Meanwhile, a major concern is that a ban may cause students, faculty, staff and visitors to leave the university, according to the memo.