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Tobacco products to be tamped out by 2011  

The University of Montana is on its way to becoming a tobacco-free campus by fall 2011.

The UM president’s office endorsed a timeline for phasing in policy starting this semester, according to UM Executive Vice President Jim Foley. The first phase includes sending questionnaires to faculty and staff, because students were already surveyed. The ASUM Senate passed a resolution supporting the plan last Wednesday.

However, it’s not a “take it or leave it” plan, Foley said. The steps leading to completion in 2011 will give everyone the opportunity to talk about an issue that should be discussed, he said.

Julee Stearns, UM health promotion specialist and chair of the UM Tobacco Task Force that drafted the plan, said that as of Oct. 2, there are at least 322 smoke-free campuses and 172 tobacco-free campuses nationwide. Montana Tech will also be completely tobacco-free in July 2010. The tobacco-free plan, drafted at the request of UM President George Dennison, aims to ensure the campus environment is healthy and accessible for everyone, Stearns said.

Stearns said 76 percent of UM students surveyed reported that they encountered more second-hand smoke on campus than in any other location.

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