Beginning this year, smokers will either be forced to kick the habit or be kicked to the curb.
A new policy banning people from smoking within 30 feet of all Ball State University building entrances went into effect earlier this month. The policy defines smoking as the "carrying or holding of a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe or any other lighted smoking equipment or the inhalation or exhalation of smoke from any lighted instrument," according to the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities Web site. The policy also states that smoking is prohibited within the same distance of operational windows and air intakes. Smoking within these areas can result in a Class B infraction, which is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 plus costs.
Kelly Schoonaert, associate director and coordinator of experiential education for wellness management, said the program does not intend to discourage people from smoking; rather it is in place to preserve the health of those who choose not to smoke.
"What it comes down to is the scientific research that shows what secondhand smoke is," Schoonaert said. "It's a poison. ... it causes disease. It's not about being against smokers. It's not 'smokers bad, nonsmokers good.' It's about what smoke is.
"About two and a half years ago, we did a research study on campus -- 71 percent said that smoking presented a problem."
The survey also said that 33 percent of students reported smoking at least one cigarette within the 30 days prior to taking the survey; 66 percent listed themselves as nonsmokers; and 46.2 percent said they did not wish to be nonconsenting smokers or exposed unnecessarily to secondhand smoke.
Smoky entrances and refuse, such as cigarette butts and ash, were cited as main problems with the smoking that occurs near campus buildings, but the most common response to the survey was that "children do not need to be where smoke is."
As with all issues, there are different opinions of what is a problem. Journalism instructor and smoker Pat Mills said that she believes the new regulations were designed to at least assist in the growing efforts to smoke out smokers.
"I'm out of line with the rest of the people, I know that ... but I think it's just another tactic to get people to quit smoking," Mills said.
How the new rules will be enforced is another issue. According to the policy, enforcement will be the responsibility of those persons who head individual units, departments, buildings, student housing units and other public facilities and venues. This means building managers will have to spot smokers who are smoking within the designated nonsmoking areas, or visitors to the buildings will have to report the smoking to building managers.
"I don't know how they're going to have people enforce it," Mills said. "I don't know whether they have enough police or parking enforcement to cover the whole area. ... It's going to be strange because it seems like, at some points, you may be out smoking in the street," she said.
Gene Burton, director of public safety, said he has not talked with anyone from the university about the enforcement of the policy, and if any decision is made about enforcement, it will come from someone other than him.
"To my knowledge, I don't think there's any plans on the university's part to have the department of public safety in enforcement of that," Burton said. "I have not had any talks with administration about this."
However, smokers will not be left out in the open. Schoonaert said that the ash urns will be moved away from building entrances by the time Fall Semester begins, and there are plans in the works for setting up shelter areas for smokers.
While it will undoubtedly cause some minor inconveniences for smokers, Schooneart asserts that the intentions of the new policy are not to harm smokers in any way. Rather, the policy will keep harm from coming to nonsmokers.
"We're hoping that people realize that secondhand smoke does hurt; it's not imaginary," Schoonaert said. "Some people are highly allergic to tobacco smoke."
Mills has a different take on the situation.
"Normally, if you press somebody long enough, it seems like they're the underdog, and you start rooting for them," Mills joked, "but that's probably not going to happen with smoking."
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