Cristina, a 19-year-old student at ETSU, has been smoking for two years. When ETSU passed a smoking ban that went into effect on Aug. 11, 2008, many student smokers like Cristina were upset that they were going to be forced to walk out to their cars every time they needed a cigarette. However, many students and faculty have chosen to ignore the tobacco free policy and smoke on campus anyway.
“I do not see the problem with smoking a cigarette on the side of the building before I walk into class,” said Christina, who asked that her last name not be revealed. “I know ETSU has a tobacco free policy, but I’m not bothering anyone and no one ever says anything to me about it.”
ETSU promotes a healthy and sanitary environment free from tobacco smoke. The ETSU community acknowledges the health hazards that tobacco products can cause, and the hazards to those exposed to second-hand smoke.
The Safety Technician from Environmental Health and Safety may ask for support from Public Safety to enforce ETSU’s tobacco free policy. For students and faculty found violating the policy, a violation form is to be completed and forwarded to Human Resources for employees or Student Affairs for students. No fines or citations are part of the basic enforcement policy according to the ETSU Web site.
“No one has ever stopped me from smoking on campus. If the policy was enforced, or if I knew I would be fined or more seriously reprimanded, I would probably go ahead and walk to my car to smoke and follow the policy,” said Cristina.
ETSU has been offering a Smoking Cessation Program since August 2008 when the policy was put into effect to help students and faculty quit their addiction, and in hopes of making campus truly tobacco free. The program takes a look at why people smoke, why they are addicted and what can be done about it. It consists of four one-hour sessions that are held during a two-week period. The program utilizes an established and proven curriculum from the American Cancer Society. However, the program has very few students interested.
“Unfortunately to date, we have had very little student participation in the program,” said Wyeth Lawson from Student/University Health Services. “Officially, there are not any students who are currently enrolled in the program.
“The program has been much more successful within the faculty/staff population.”
However, the Smoking Cessation Program at ETSU has been somewhat successful for those enrolled in helping them quit.
“Most smoking cessation programs shoot for a 30% success rate,” said Lawson. “We have been slightly more successful with a 38% success rate within the program as a whole with faculty, staff and students combined.”
While faculty and staff seem to be taking advantage of the Smoking Cessation Program, students have consistently expressed little interest.
“Although I plan on quitting at some point,” said Cristina, “I do not necessarily want to quit right now. I’m sure the Smoking Cessation Program works, but I’m just not interested.”
“The problem with smoking in my car is that sometimes I park far away from where I am during the day,” said Cristina. “I don’t always have the time to run to my car whenever I need a cigarette.”
Students like Cristina do not see any problem with smoking on campus as long as they are not bothering other students. Some suggest that the university designate smoking areas to accommodate students and faculty who wish to continue smoking.
“If the university designates areas for me to smoke, I will most likely comply and smoke only in the areas where it is permitted,” said Cristina. “I don’t exactly like to break the rules, but when I need to smoke and my car is all the way on the other side of campus and there is no smoking area, I don’t have much choice other than to smoke in whatever secluded spot I can find.”
Cristina, and likely other student smokers, are going to continue smoking on campus until something is done to enforce the policy, or an altered policy is made.
“ETSU can offer all the qQuit smoking’ programs they want,” she said, “but unless they really crack down on enforcing the policy, or choose to designate an area for smokers, I think people are going to continue to ignore the policy.

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