The fight for a healthier campus

by Lauren Malan, posted Nov. 24, 2009

The smoking ban at the University of Missouri is in progress. As of Jan. 20, smoking on campus was banned at a 20-foot range from any opening to a building, according to the university’s Business Policy and Procedures Manual. The University plans on making campus smoke-free by 2014.

The plans for a smoke-free campus are taking place in gradual steps, said Traci Harr, coordinator of the Columbia Tobacco Prevention Initiative.

“By January 2011 the campus will move to designated smoking areas,” Harr said. “By January 2014 the entire campus will be smoke-free.”

For some non-smoking students, the smoking ban could not happen fast enough.

“I have a hard time being around smokers,” said freshman Troy Wagner. “I have a hard time breathing because of my asthma anyway, and the smoke makes it worse.”

Concerned students think assigning designated smoking areas is a good start. However, they do not feel that it will be very effective unless it is enforced at all times.

“It’ll never work,” said Caitlin Hanson. “How are they going to stop people from smoking? People smoke by the doors all the time and nobody does anything about it, so how are they going to limit it to designated areas when they can’t enforce it now?”

Enforcement of this law is based solely on the courtesy of smokers, Harr said. Campus police will not be in charge of enforcing the smoke-free proposition, because smoking is not against the law.

“Enforcement is driven by education,” Harr said. “Just simply letting students, faculty, staff and visitors know that there is no smoking on campus yields best results.”

Smokers on campus make up only 10 percent of the student population, according to “Most Of Us,” a Web site run by the Wellness Resource Center (mostofus.missouri.edu). With raised awareness and courteous smokers, this pecentage could decrease dramatically.

Harr not only encourages the smoking ban on campus, but she has also cofounded and advises for Peer Advocating Smoke-Free Solutions. PASS is a group that focuses on tobacco prevention through advocating and policy change.

“PASS peer educators work to educate Mizzou students about the dangers of smoke and second-hand smoke,” Harr said. “The group is comprised of students who are interested in contributing to clean air on campus and student wellness.”

To encourage smokers to quit, resources have been made available at the Student Wellness Center, along with various places in Columbia. Many of these resources are free.

The ban will not change daily smoking habits, according to some smokers. It will just make them be more discrete about it. Some smokers, however, are hoping the ban helps them kick the habit.

“It’s a gross habit,” said Anna Linders. “I just haven’t had any reason to quit. Maybe the ban will help me do just that.”

 The group is comprised of students who are interested in contributing to clean air on campus and student wellness.

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