More than a month after Ball State University implemented its smoking ban, administrators say enforcement has gone smoothly, but a new concern has arisen for smokers and the university - cleanliness of smoking areas.
Thomas Morrison, associate vice president for human resources, said one of the main reasons the policy was instituted was the cigarette debris that covered parts of campus.
"The problem has subsided, but unfortunately it will continue to be a problem in the smoking areas," Morrison said.
Kevin Kenyon, associate vice president of facilities planning and management, said the areas are cleaned regularly.
Ball State's grounds crew cleans the smoking areas on their route in the morning, which is the same route for emptying the garbage cans, he said.
Some student smokers, such as Matt Dean, think the areas are too filthy despite the routine cleaning.
"It's disgusting over here [near LaFollette]," he said. "There needs to be more or bigger ashtrays that won't move."
Freshman Kate Bolinger said although there are several ashtrays at the LaFollette smoking area, the predominantly used ashtrays are coffee cans, which are not cleaned as often as they need to be.
Kenyon said Ball State is willing to accommodate the smokers.
"We are considering adding ashtrays to the areas where the smoking is the heaviest," he said. "A couple of our ashtrays were damaged by someone with a heavy object at the beginning of the smoking policy, so more need to be ordered."
Senior Lance Stevens said smokers are responsible for litter in smoking areas, not the university.
"It's irresponsible, from a smoker's perspective, how we are throwing cigarettes on the ground when there is an ashtray only a few feet away," Stevens said. "No matter how many ashtrays you have there will always be cigarette butts on the ground. At least it's just in the smoking areas now."
Stevens said he likes the smoking areas, but they can be hard to find.
"Some sort of sign saying 'smoking area this way' or signs that label the smoking areas would help a lot," he said.
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