Michelle Sullivan, executive aide in the management and marketing department, is caught in the middle of an occurrence staged between Brooks Gym and Sam Wilson Hall because smokers do not comply with a university-wide smoking ban. Sam Wilson is home to ETSU’s College of Business, including the management and marketing department, and one employee says the congregation of smokers outside the building is affecting the work atmosphere in the office.

“The main air vents are right beside the landing,” Sullivan said. “So when students are standing there smoking, it gets into that air vent. It filters straight into the offices. I feel like I have to sit here and marinate in it.”

Reporting these instances to the appropriate authority was a challenge to Sullivan.

“I filed complaints through public safety several times a month,” Sullivan said. “It got worse through the summer to the fall. I just kind of gave up on doing it.”

She eventually called the environmental health office but said there is a gap in their communication.

“Those two aren’t on the same page,” said Sullivan.

Non-smoker Crystal Hillman, a senior studying business, can be found frequently standing between Sam Wilson and Brooks Hall.

“It is a place to socialize and enjoy the short amount of time outside of the business school,” she said. “It really doesn’t bother me because I think that students and faculty should be able to smoke if they would like. They are adults after all.”

According to an article written by Judy Fortin for CNN in 2007, Daniel Smith, president of the American Cancer Society Action Network, said that the trend toward a smoke-free country is growing.

“I think college campuses are simply reflecting the same trend we’re seeing in society,” Smith said.

Dr. Wilsie Bishop, vice president for health affairs who spearheaded ETSU’s smoke-free policy, said, “ETSU has a significant health care mission.

“We were among the first in the state to ban smoking both in buildings and outside of buildings across campus. The main goal is obviously to create a healthful environment and promote as well as teach good health behaviors for life.”

The campuswide smoking ban went into effect Aug. 8, 2007, and has been the topic for much controversy at ETSU. The ban, as the signs say, was put into effect because they ‘care about your health.’ But, who are ‘they’ and how are ‘they’ enforcing the ban to ensure that the campus environment remains smoke-free?

Students are making educated guesses as to who is enforcing the policy.

According to Hillman, campus security, faculty and ETSU staff are responsible for enforcing the policy. Others pin it mostly on public safety.

“I assume it’s supposed to be public safety but I’ve never looked into it,” said Noah Naseri, a junior studying biology.

Public Safety Officer Mike Orr said that the responsibility lies halfway between public safety and faculty and staff.

“Our department is responsible for responding to complaints of person(s) violating the smoking policy,” said Orr. “All faculty and staff are responsible for enforcing the smoking policy.”

Orr said that once a complaint is called in or they see someone smoking, they are supposed to ask the person to put the cigarette out and proceed by explaining the policy.

“This is what occurs in the majority of the complaints we get,” he said. “If the person refuses or the officer can identify the person as being a repeat violator of the policy, their information (name, ETSU number) is collected and a report is made.”

The approach for enforcing the policy lies within the ETSU community’s willingness to voluntarily adapt to the policy, Bishop said.

“Obviously, not all individuals are willing to do that,” she said.

“I think it will be important to identify measures that are progressively punitive which will ultimately require compliance.”

Currently no fine could be placed on person(s) violating the policy, said Officer Orr.

“This is not a criminal offense where officers would make an arrest or give a citation,” he said.

“This would only occur if a person becomes disruptive with the intent to cause public annoyance or alarm at which time they could be charged with disorderly conduct in violation of T.C.A. 39-17-305.”

According to Bishop, the goal of the smoking ban has been mostly accomplished.

“We have made a significant difference in smoking behaviors on campus,” she said.

“Smoking in buildings is virtually eliminated, but we do still have some students who smoke while walking to class or in places where they congregate outside of key classroom buildings.”

Most students are aware of the smoking ban but there are many that do not follow the policy.

“I smoke in front of buildings all the time and no one has ever said anything to me,” Naseri said. “I smoke on campus because I don’t want to walk all the way to my vehicle to smoke – especially in the winter months.

“I feel like it wastes time. I often only have about 10 minutes between classes and that’s just not enough time to walk there and back.”

A designated smoking area would be beneficial to the university, said Hillman, who doesn’t smoke but feels that others should have the right to smoke on campus.

“I do not believe that students who congregate in a designated area are harming the environment or others,” she said. “If the school used the $5 per student green fee for cigarette trash receptacles, the campus would most likely be litter free of cigarettes.

“In fact, many say they should just bring by a coffee can and it would be put to good use. I am sure that the cigarette trash would qualify for a green initiative program.”

Bishop doesn’t see the benefits of adding places on campus for people to smoke but said that the committee involved with the program is open to the “discussion of any and all ideas.”

“Having designated smoking areas though, sends the message that smoking is OK,” she said. “As a cardiac surgery nurse, I have been present in the operating room and seen the damaged lungs of smokers.

Smoking is not okay for your health.”

The university is very committed to the smoke-free policy and Bishop said she does not foresee it being revoked.

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