IU smoking ban expected to have gradual effect

Complaints from students living in residence halls, faculty and staff have led Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson to “improvise” exceptions to the campus-wide smoking ban that began Jan. 1, she said. \nHanson is hopeful for IU’s future as a smoke-free campus, but understands the difficulty of making such a lifestyle change, she said. Hanson believes “friendly approaches” and education will be key to assuring greater compliance with the ban. \n“We understand that smoking is a lifestyle for many people and it is asking a lot to adjust,” Hanson said. “It wasn’t so long ago that there was smoking in hospitals.”\nStudents and faculty are encouraged to move their smoking to less populated areas, Hanson said. Rather than think the administration is out to get them, students and faculty should understand that the smoking ban is intended to improve the health of IU as a whole, Hanson said.\nMany students have been curious as to what the consequences could be if they are seen smoking in an unauthorized zone, Hanson said. She said smokers should not feel threatened by the ban, but rather aware that smoking on campus isn’t illegal; it’s a regulation. Student smokers can be sent to the dean of students for violating the ban, but unless smokers are purposefully creating a disturbance, this scenario is unlikely, Hanson said. \nFreshman Travis Hack said he thinks the ban is a lost cause.\n“A campus-wide smoking ban won’t work because it’s impossible to effectively enforce it to a point where change will be seen,” Hack said. “I walk by people smoking all the time, and there is no one there to stop them.”\nHowever, Director of Health and Wellness Education Cathlene Hansen said she hopes the smoking awareness classes and support groups currently available on campus help promote a healthy lifestyle.\n“Our programs at the Health and Wellness Center help make change easier,” Hansen said. “Each week we are thinking of new ways to help.”\nBeginning Feb. 12, the IU Health Center will offer smoking cessation classes for a three-month trial period, Hansen said. Those who attend the classes will receive free nicotine replacement products to support their efforts. Anyone in Indiana can get one-on-one phone consultations and receive patches, gum and mints for nicotine replacement while supplies last.\nThe health center is willing to help with the change in a supportive manner. Programs are offered every Tuesday at noon and smoking support is also available to anyone who calls the new hotline, 1-800-QUITNOW.\n“Nicotine is addicting, but smoke kills,” Hansen said. “By using friendly enforcement, we will see change.”