Tobacco.org

• Law faculties recruited to anti-smoking squads 

Faculty members at Widener University School of Law will have a new role to play next academic year: smoking police. . . .

Widener is one of a growing number of law schools that are getting tough on smoking by students, faculty, staff and visitors. . . .

In addition to Widener, which has campuses in Wilmington, Del., and Harrisburg, Pa., Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and the University of Florida Levin College of Law in Gainesville, Fla., are preparing to ban all smoking effective in July. The University of Iowa College of Law, the University of Arkansas School of Law, the Oklahoma City University School of Law, the Indiana University Maurer School of Law-Bloomington and Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis each went totally smoke-free last year. . . .

The smoking ban at the University of Arkansas had a significant effect on campus, said law school communications director Andy Albertson, who served on a committee that recommended the smoking ban.

"You just don't see people smoking on campus much anymore," he said.

Enforcement has been an issue in a few rare cases, Albertson said. Like most schools that prohibit smoking, Arkansas relies primarily on self-policing to keep the tobacco at bay. Some faculty members choose to inform smokers of the policy, while others choose not to get involved.

"There is no official enforcement. . . .

For schools getting ready to go smoke-free, Albertson recommends giving staff and students plenty of advance warning and coming up with a real enforcement process.

Jump to full article »