http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/colleges.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20091122/OPINION01/911220327/Campus smoking bans http://tobacco.org/news/293118.html Some UofL smokers complain that it's cruel to restrict smoking when final exams are only weeks away, and some don't expect the ban to ever be strictly enforced. Indeed, UK and Bellarmine officials told the newspaper that citations won't be issued to smoking ban violators and that the focus is on "changing behaviors." The fact is that college smoking bans are in the best interest of the students and faculty, something that benefits everyone. That's so, even if quitting proves tougher than taking an organic chemistry final. Louisville Courier-Journal Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.news-expressky.com/articles/2009/11/21/top_story/01free.txt http://tobacco.org/news/293112.html Pikeville College announced Friday that the school will be tobacco-free by the fall semester of 2010. The decision has not been endorsed by all faculty members, however. Some students and faculty feel their rights are being infringed upon. One of those students is Cathy Coleman, a social work and psychology major, who says the decision to ban smoking from the school was done without getting student opinions first. "We have rights as smokers just like people that don't smoke," she said. "We're paying to go to school here and we should be allowed to smoke if we choose to." Appalachian News-Express Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.uta.edu/president/about/messages/2009/nov20.php http://tobacco.org/news/293108.html Earlier this year, we convened a 15-member committee of students and staff to review UT Arlington's current policy regarding tobacco use on campus and to explore the possibility of advancing a tobacco-free initiative for the University. Jean Hood, vice president for human resources, chaired the Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative Committee. For almost eight months, the committee conducted a thorough assessment of issues and attitudes related to the use of tobacco products on campus. . . . In September, the committee issued its findings to the campus community and forwarded its final recommendations to me. After the final report was issued, the committee welcomed additional input and responses from students, faculty, and staff. We received 205 responses. Having weighed all of the information and input on the matter, I am satisfied that the committee has thoroughly researched and considered this issue. Therefore, I accept and concur with the committee's recommendations to make UT Arlington a tobacco-free campus. We are not telling anyone they can no longer use tobacco. That was never the intent, and it is not the case. Use of tobacco products is a personal choice. With the new policy, we're simply saying that the use of tobacco on campus will not be permissible and that we will become a tobacco-free campus by August 1, 2011. Meanwhile, during the next 21 months leading up to August 1, 2011, we will address issues of enforcement. During this time, we also will be more vigilant in enforcing our current policy, which prohibits smoking within 50 feet of any campus building. The one exception--and this is the only element of the recommendations that I would like to clarify--is that we will allow individuals to use tobacco products in their personal vehicles, provided they do so with the windows closed and properly dispose of waste material. No use of tobacco products will be permitted in University-owned vehicles, regardless of whether they are on campus or off campus. Additionally, I am pleased to report that the University is offering support for anyone who wishes to stop using tobacco. UT Arlington jds@uta.edu Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/1778566.html http://tobacco.org/news/293107.html Students and faculty will no longer be allowed to light up on the University of Texas at Arlington's campus, President James Spaniolo said Friday, as the school becomes the first four-year college in the region to ban smoking and tobacco use campus wide. The ban is scheduled to take place in August 2011. "Many of us remember a time when smoking was commonplace in offices, malls, airplanes, public buildings, sports arenas, and even hospitals," Spaniolo said in a written response. "But times have changed, and it is time for UT Arlington to take the next step forward in protecting the health of our campus community." Fort Worth Star-Telegram /personas?plckUserId=@Nyx.Key (NATHANIEL JONES) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/112109dnmetuta.2d60fa06e.html http://tobacco.org/news/293106.html The University of Texas at Arlington is banning smoking on campus - indoors and out. The ban, announced today, takes effect in August 2011. It's believed to be the first of its kind at a four-year college in North Texas. "The use of tobacco is a serious issue that affects the health and well-being of our entire campus community," James Spaniolo, UTA's president, said in a written statement. "During the past two decades, we have experienced a sea change in attitudes, culture, policies, and laws related to tobacco use... [T]imes have changed, and it is time for UT Arlington to take the next step forward in protecting the health of our campus community." Dallas Morning News btomaso@dallasnews.com (BRUCE TOMASO / The Dallas Morning News) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.theshorthorn.com/content/view/18327/265/ http://tobacco.org/news/293105.html Students, faculty, staff and visitors will not be allowed to smoke or use tobacco products on campus after that date, President James Spaniolo announced Friday. In a letter addressing the issue, President James Spaniolo said during the next two years before the ban, the university will focus on vigilant enforcement of the current smoking policy, which doesn't allow anyone to smoke inside or within 50 feet of all campus buildings. Spaniolo said people will be allowed to use tobacco products in their personal vehicles, but only if the windows are up and products are disposed correctly. "This sentiment respects the belief that an individual vehicle is personal property," university spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said. "This is the president respecting personal space." The Shorthorn jim.cotten@yahoo.comNO Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://news10now.com/cny-news-1013-content/top_stories/488270/suny-cortland-says-no-thanks-to-big-tobacco?ap=1&MP4 http://tobacco.org/news/293104.html Studies show 18 to 25-year olds have the highest rate of tobacco use at 18 percent nationwide, and it's the only group whose numbers are not going down. SUNY Cortland has partnered with the Onondaga County Health department to address the issue, and educators told Tamara Lindstrom that means saying no thanks to big tobacco. . . . Concerns like these are driving SUNY Cortland to take a closer look at smoking policies. "Our buildings are tobacco-free. Our entire campus is not tobacco free. So we want to look at the outdoors because secondhand smoke certainly is a concern," said health educator Catherine Smith. That's just one of the initiatives included in the Colleges for Change program. The program aims to reduce smoking among students through education and tougher tobacco policies. About 14 percent of SUNY Cortland students smoke, lower than the national average. But educators want to see that number go down. News 10 Now Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/-Edinburgh-University-students-stub.5846149.jp http://tobacco.org/news/293097.html STUDENTS at Edinburgh University have voted to keep cigarettes on sale on campus. A motion was put before the annual general meeting of Edinburgh University Students Association which would have stopped EUSA shops from selling cigarettes and remove all cigarette machines on campus. The motion, put forward by a fourth year medical student, argued that EUSA should not profit from, promote or help facilitate smoking. It would also have required the students association to promote services which provide support and advice to students who wished to give up smoking. More than 700 students turned out for the AGM – the largest number for several years – filling the university's George Square lecture theatre and forcing organisers to set up a video link to another venue. The Scotsman UK-Scotland Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/1779631.html http://tobacco.org/news/293092.html Starting in August 2011, smoking will be banned at the University of Texas at Arlington, President James Spaniolo said Friday. The school is the first four-year college in the region to forbid tobacco use campuswide. "Many of us remember a time when smoking was commonplace in offices, malls, airplanes, public buildings, sports arenas and even hospitals," Spaniolo said. "But times have changed, and it is time for UT-Arlington to take the next step forward in protecting the health of our campus community." In April, Tarrant County College trustees approved a campuswide tobacco ban at the two-year school, allowing smoking only in private vehicles. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth enacted a campus ban in November 2008. Nationally, 172 colleges and universities forbid tobacco use, Fort Worth Star-Telegram /personas?plckUserId=@Nyx.Key (NATHANIEL JONES) Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://kykernel.com/2009/11/19/tobacco-free-initiative-needs-compromise/ http://tobacco.org/news/293079.html So what can we do as a university to compromise between the two groups? I think we should grab hold of the policy Bluegrass Community and Technical College adopted in August. With designated smoking areas, smokers will not have to venture off campus to smoke, be late for classes because of their need for a cigarette or drop their cigarette butts in local neighborhoods, but will be forced to group together in a smaller, more controlled area. In a perfect world, the smoking ban at UK would rid the campus of addiction, pollution and allergies, but maybe the most realistic first step would be a compromise. Kentucky Kernel Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2009/11/20/News/Sga-Utilizes.Blog.To.Get.Input.On.Possible.Uga.Smoking.Ban-3838169.shtml http://tobacco.org/news/293076.html The University's Student Government Association wants to know what students think about lighting up on campus. With an increasing number of colleges and universities implementing campus-wide smoking bans, members of SGA said they want to gauge student interest at the University with a poll on the SGA blog. "The smoking policy on campus is not something that is widely known," said Suzanne Meller, SGA General Assembly secretary. "We're exploring this because it's an issue." The smoking policy on campus adopted in 2006 prohibits smoking in dormitories, all University facilities, Sanford Stadium and areas adjacent to buildings. An administrator told The Red & Black in an interview in September they would be open to changing the policy if students and faculty supported and proposed a different plan. Red and Black Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://kykernel.com/2009/11/19/slideshow-students-faculty-light-up-to-protest-tobacco-ban/ http://tobacco.org/news/293014.html Even on a UK men's basketball game day, the usual chants of students were altered in response to the tobacco-ban—"C-I-G-S, CIGS, CIGS, CIGS!" Under clouds of smoke, more than 100 smokers and non-smokers gathered to protest the campus-wide tobacco ban UK implemented Thursday by continuously using tobacco products in front of Patterson Office Tower and on the Student Center patio. The ban prohibits the use of cigarettes, pipes, cigars and chewing tobacco, and extends to all properties owned by the university in Fayette County. “What are they going to do? Tell me that I can’t smoke?” said Robbie Moore Kentucky Kernel news@kykernel.com (Landon Antonetti) Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10610425 http://tobacco.org/news/292987.html The University of Auckland will become the country's first smoke-free university next year. From January 1, smoking will be banned on all Auckland University campuses and outdoor spaces, including places previously designated as smoking areas. In a revision of its smoke-free policy, the university decided the old policy was not combating risks to non-smokers from passive smoking. Staff and students were asked for their views on three options - maintaining the status quo, banning smoking within 10m of buildings and facilities or total prohibition. Seventy-five per cent of those who responded supported total prohibition New Zealand Herald New Zealand Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10610425 http://tobacco.org/news/292986.html The University of Auckland will become the country's first smoke-free university next year. From January 1, smoking will be banned on all Auckland University campuses and outdoor spaces, including places previously designated as smoking areas. In a revision of its smoke-free policy, the university decided the old policy was not combating risks to non-smokers from passive smoking. Staff and students were asked for their views on three options - maintaining the status quo, banning smoking within 10m of buildings and facilities or total prohibition. Seventy-five per cent of those who responded supported total prohibition New Zealand Herald New Zealand Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=18878 http://tobacco.org/news/292985.html Purdue University's West Lafayette campus will become smoke free except in limited areas beginning July 1. The campus-wide policy was announced Thursday (Nov 19) - coinciding with the 33rd annual Great American Smokeout - following input from faculty, staff and students. The new policy will limit smoking to limited designated campus areas and will prohibit smoking in all vehicles owned or leased by Purdue. "Following feedback from a campus-wide survey as well as meetings with severalcampus groups, we modified the proposed policy from one that called for a total ban to one that will allow smoking in a few areas," said Al Diaz, executive vice president for business and finance, treasurer. The responsibility for choosing those areas will fall to Diaz. The Exponent Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT