The University Senate unanimously passed legislation Wednesday that will push smokers 30 feet away from campus buildings.
Sen. Katie Carlson, student, said faculty members complained about smoke coming up into second-story offices through windows.
"As much as people have the right to smoke, people have the right not to break in smoke while working," Carlson said.
The university will move ashtrays to the appropriate distance from buildings to define the area.
Sen. Stanley Keil, associate professor of economics, said the distance the distance was chosen based on Indiana University and other universities which have the same rules. Signs will be posted around doors to alert people to the change. Right now, the university only bans people from smoking inside buildings.
Although people could be fined $1,000 for smoking closer than 30 feet to buildings, Keil said most likely no one would ever be fined.
"We hoped it would be enforced first by peer pressure," Keil said.
The university also doesn't expect to see full results for three to four years, because a change in campus culture is needed, he said.
However, Keil said he hoped the signs would help most people.
"People can simply point to the sign and say, 'Please,'" Keil said.
The university's smoking policy already gives power to administrative heads, such as chairmen, to enforce the policy, but this would hopefully be the secondary mode of enforcement, he said.
Keil said any suggestions that deal with creating shelters for smokers could be made to Kevin Kenyon, associate vice president of facility planning and management.
"I think that will help with the culture change," Sen. Adam Gaff, student, said. "You don't want to be cold and wet for a long time."
However, Carlson said she did not think the change would affect smokers too much.
The next University Senate meeting will be at 4 p.m. Jan. 10 in Art and Journalism Building room 175.
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