Yes! Right. You know what's good for everyone!
Posted on 09/26/2002 5:00:08 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
LCC smoking ban includes outdoors
College campus goes tobacco-free on Tuesday
By Sharon Terlep
Lansing State Journal
Lansing Community College on Tuesday will become one of the first - if not the only - Michigan colleges to ban outdoor smoking.
But lighting up is still allowed on a city-owned strip of land that runs through the heart of campus. LCC - Michigan's third- largest community college - planned to forbid smoking there until discovering Wednesday it couldn't.
"We just want a healthier environment for our students and employees," LCC spokeswoman Ruth Borger said. "This isn't intended to punish someone."
Smoking has been banned in LCC buildings since 2000, when smokers were designated one area outside each building.
The new policy extends the prohibition to campus parking lots and garages and any outdoor area not part of Washington Square. That 115-foot-wide, 1/4-mile-long stretch of land covers about 10 percent of LCC's campus.
"I will enjoy not having to walk around a crowd of smokers on my way to class," said LCC student and nonsmoker Chris Couling, 24, of Lansing. "But I don't know if it's fair."
Students, staff and faculty who violate the ban will receive a citation from campus police requiring them to meet with either human resources or student judicial affairs. The first citation will result in a verbal warning. Numerous warnings could ultimately result in suspension or firing. People not affiliated with the campus will be asked not to smoke, Borger said.
Health advocates lauded the ban Wednesday, saying it will promote better health among college students who are increasingly picking up the habit. About one-third of Michigan residents ages 18 to 24 smoked in 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But smokers say the ban is excessive and unreasonable.
"I mean, this is outside," said student Tyrone Wilson, 18, of Detroit. "I could see if it's inside. I don't plan to stop."
Student Aaron Wyble said the policy is unfair and will do nothing to keep him from smoking.
"I think it's really, really stupid," said Wyble, 20, of Holt as he puffed 20 feet from a sign reading "This area is smoke free."
"What if I just want to step out of class and relax a bit?"
LCC is the latest in a string of local smoking crackdowns.
In February, Ingham County became the first in the state to ban smoking in many public and private work sites.
General Motors Corp. began enforcing a wall-to-wall smoking ban in plants last month.
And state lawmakers this summer raised Michigan's tax for a pack of cigarettes - already the 11th-highest in the nation - from 75 cents to $1.25 a pack.
Michigan State University doesn't allow smoking in buildings or immediately around entrances, but doesn't have an all-out ban.
Several health advocates and college officials said they knew of no other college or university to ban smoking outdoors, though it's becoming a trend on hospital campuses.
Two health systems in Grand Rapids and the University of Michigan Medical Center recently banned the practice. Lansing's hospitals have not.
LCC decided in 2000 it would phase out smoking outdoors. The Board of Trustees voted again in March to extend the no-smoking zone. Part of the plan is to offer smoking cessation programs, now available to employees, to students.
"This has been a gradual, two-stepped approach," said Brian Jeffries, chairman of LCC's Board of Trustees. "It was clear through all the forums we had many people wanted this."
Jeffries said the plan was initiated several years ago when an asthmatic student told the board smoke was making it difficult for her to breathe outside.
The school will hold a forum Monday to explain the policy and answer questions.
Every student also will receive a postcard explaining the change.
Borger said the school doesn't anticipate a problem enforcing the ban, though several students said they planned to show up Monday to complain.
"They shouldn't have to explain themselves at all," said Gary McMullen, spokesman for the Great Lakes branch of the American Lung Association. "Moves like this send a great message to college students there's nothing good about smoking."
Smoking policy
Smoking is not allowed inside or outside, except on Washington Square.
Smokers will receive a citation from college police.
The first citation results in a warning. Numerous warnings could result in suspension or, eventually, firing.
Nonstudents or nonemployees will be asked not to smoke, but won't be reprimanded.LCC forum
What: LCC smoking policy forum
When: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday
Where: Old Central Lecture Hall, Room 129
As for McMullen, this speaks of the arrogance of the public health fascists. I can't stand those people. They are the worst of the worst.
I want a full, comprehensive, no loop hole BAN on farting...anywhere!
First one caught violating that ban will be drwan and quartered in the area formally known as "smoking area" (now defunkt, of course).
Yes, and some would enjoy not having to walk past a crowd of women wearing perfume, or around a group of guys staring at you, or around people who are sneezing, or past the neighbor's pesticide filled yards, etcetcetc. I Hate anti-smoking Nazis
Just so you know...
Yes! Right. You know what's good for everyone!
There, I fixed his statement so that he says what he REALLY meant.
That sounds better, Joe!
This stuff is dangerous AND it invades and violates your most private of private situations.
A few years back, the company that I work for had an "TQ" team tackle the "problem" of outdoor second hand smoke. These morons er "empowered employees" came up with a policy, complete with a map of where smoking outdoors was acceptable. The map had all of the parking lots and the south bound lanes of the 405 freeway in the no smoking area.
It seems this club is growing by the day!!!!!!!!
But even worse, they deny this and claim it is the tobacco company advertising that is causing the increase in adolescent smoking - but even worse - the dipstick media actualy believe them.
That is impossible - if you are a non-smoker you are in 1000% support of everything they say and do (/sarcasm)
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