Possible Smoking Ban, Will Buff State be smoke-free? Options

[Chrissy K]

If you are a current student, you probably were asked to participate in an anonymous survey about Buff State becoming a smoke-free campus.

Let us know your thoughts on a smoking ban here and take the poll!

[Amerosa]

It's silly to think that this is something that would actually happen.

[Chrissy K]

That is what I thought at first too but I think it is just a matter of how much the campus community pushes for it. I recently found out that UB is a smoke free campus (although I'm not sure how well that is enforced).

[SpartanPhalanx1]

It may seem silly, but this IS the way the entire state is moving. This may not get passed now, but I would not be surprised if within a decade a law was passed that restricted smoking in ALL places but a private residence.

[hagenbl01]

My health should should be mine to control. I have allegies to smoke and COPD.
I have never smoked once in my life; I do not wish to be included in secondhand smoke scenarios.
Schools should promote personal and societal health and wellness.
I hate seeing those disgusting cigarette butts laying all over the ground all over campus
because people are too lazy to throw them out in the garbage can 10 feet away. Talk about eye-sores.
I hate walking to classes, into buildings and out of buildings into a cloud of smoke
from those who constantly have to light up. I have to hold my breath when I exit or enter buildings
and when I pass by smokers on campus.
When smokers come into class and sit down near me, my throat closes up and I can't breathe. All I think about for the next hour and a half is how bad it smells and how it hurts me to breathe. IF I mention anything or get up and move away
from them, than I'm the rude one.
Do everyone a favor a ban smoking on campus. People can still do it in their homes, cars and all over the rest of the world.

[hagenbl01]

Also, I used to attend UB, which is a fantastic school. (I only transferred because of a shift in Major.)
Their no smoking is the best thing I've experienced in a while. A beautiful clean campus, (no butts!) MUCH better smelling.
People can still smoke out by their cars and the rest of us get to breathe better. I loved when that policy was put in place and
honestly, not much of the student body cared that the policy changed. Smokers and non smokers alike.

[Chrissy K]

Also, I used to attend UB, which is a fantastic school. (I only transferred because of a shift in Major.)
Their no smoking is the best thing I've experienced in a while. A beautiful clean campus, (no butts!) MUCH better smelling.
People can still smoke out by their cars and the rest of us get to breathe better. I loved when that policy was put in place and
honestly, not much of the student body cared that the policy changed. Smokers and non smokers alike.

Thanks for the insights!

So would you say the smoking ban was well enforced at UB? I used to visit my friends there a lot back in 2007-2008 and I remember them smoking outside their dorm all the time... maybe this was before the ban started though?

[jnm]

Thanks for the insights!

So would you say the smoking ban was well enforced at UB? I used to visit my friends there a lot back in 2007-2008 and I remember them smoking outside their dorm all the time... maybe this was before the ban started though?

I visited my friends at UB a couple months ago, they smoke outside their dorm all the time and theres still those big ash tray/garbage cans next to the doors and no one has ever said anything to them but when i was out in the parking lot sitting on the hood of my car smoking, some students gave me crap about it.. so i guess it really depends on who you run into there..

[SpartanPhalanx1]

I do not smoke at all, but I really do not care if other people smoke as long as it is not inside. I actually like the smell as long as what the people are smoking is not cheap stuff.
That said, I seem to be in the minority, and I can certainly see why people would not want people smoking around them.
Be prepared for whatever laws they are cooking up in NYC to make their way upstate at some point.

[bornah89]

What about my SAFETY??
I am a smoker thus it may seem that the reply you are about to read is a biased one HOWEVER...I completely understand why so many would like it to be a non smoking campus because every single one of my friends is a non smoker! I too agree that people should not have to inhale the cigarette smoke if they are a non smoker! HOWEVER... I do believe that there is a COMPROMISE that may be made so that both parties (smokers as well as non smokers) can be happy!! The only CONCERN I have regarding a non smoking campus is the following, I have insomnia therefore I cannot sleep during the night and am very concerned for my safety seeing as I do smoke in the middle of the night when others are not awake! I am concerned because having lived on campus for 4 years I have come to learn that Grant street is NOT a safe place to be ESPECIALLY during the middle of the night! Thus I would GREATLY appreciate it if some sort of a compromise be made!!!

[Chrissy K]

Update:

An article in the summer issue of The Record announced that the College Senate has passed the proposal to ban smoking on campus and it is now being passed as a recommendation to the school administration. So although nothing is set in stone yet, I just wanted to update everyone and let you know that the ban is one step closer to becoming reality.

[SpartanPhalanx1]

It would almost make more sense to have designated smokers huts scattered around campus like they have at hospitals around me. It would certainly be crazy inconvenient for those who live on campus to not be able to smoke on campus.
Well lit yet out of the way bus-stop style smoking huts could be a decent alternative to a complete ban, especially for those who live in buildings that are more in the middle of campus.

[Chrissy K]

Breaking news in Sept 21, 2011 issue of The Record!

President Podolefsky has passed the smoking ban on campus. The plan is to make Buff State a smoke-free campus by January through a gradual cultural shift. The President for Student Affairs, Hal Payne, will be overseeing the enforcement policy.

By the way, The Record has gone digital, so you can find the story here:
http://www.bscrecord.com/news/senate-passe...18#.TnzfhexwtQI

[sarahdesa]

If the problem is the cigarette butts, what about all the other litter people leave ALL over the place? Shouldn't that be fined too? If the problem is smoking around buildings, there should at least be a designated area for people to smoke, away from buildings, and those who don't want to smell it can avoid it. Telling people that they can't choose to smoke on campus just plain sucks - I am here sometimes 8 hours a day with no time to leave campus. I can understand people not wanting to be around it or see the butts, but those problems are easily fixed, instead of just out right banning it.

[fritter]

sarahdesa, we do have a designated area away from building that people can smoke (15 feet from the building). The problem is that people don't follow the rule, especially during bad weather. Back when I use to live on campus, I lived on the second floor of tower 3, right over the entrance. My common room and bed room always smelled like cigarette because people would smoke right next to the building. What I think they should do is have smoking areas like they do at amusement parks, so that people who smoke don't have to leave campus, but they can make sure the smoking is out of the way of walking traffic and buildings.

[Yankeebeetle]

If the problem is the cigarette butts, what about all the other litter people leave ALL over the place? Shouldn't that be fined too? If the problem is smoking around buildings, there should at least be a designated area for people to smoke, away from buildings, and those who don't want to smell it can avoid it. Telling people that they can't choose to smoke on campus just plain sucks - I am here sometimes 8 hours a day with no time to leave campus. I can understand people not wanting to be around it or see the butts, but those problems are easily fixed, instead of just out right banning it.

Hello Sarah. I was wondering if you, or anyone else on this page who is against the smoking ban, would be willing to be in a short documentary I have to make for a class. I need to get opinions from both sides of the issue, and right now I'm lacking people who are against it. The interview would be pretty short, and it'll only be shown in my class. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Rachel

[veronica]

I can't believe that there is only 24 replies... is this including that online poll last semester?? what little involvement! I think designated areas would be great. This most recent fall semester is proof that a lot of smokers don't follow the few rules of not smoking so close to buildings and leaving their butts all over. more people should have voted!

[Richard Morrison]

Hey All, I know this is a late post, but I would definitely agree that smoking should be actually banned all around campus.
In fact, coming from a Canadian University in Vancouver British Columbia, I am used to seeing this has rule implemented almost campus wide....
Just sayin...

[JimmyStew]

Hey All, I know this is a late post, but I would definitely agree that smoking should be actually banned all around campus.
In fact, coming from a Canadian University in Vancouver British Columbia, I am used to seeing this has rule implemented almost campus wide....
Just sayin...

I think there should at least be designated smoking areas.

[TreborHG]

OH GOD YES.