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UB smoke-free policy is fully in force
UB is one of more than 300 colleges and universities across the country that have enacted 100-percent smoke-free policies.
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“It’s not about ‘do this or else’; it’s about respecting the people around you and trying to do the right thing and not hurting anyone else.”
The year-long transition period for UB’s no-smoking policy has ended, and smoking is no longer allowed anywhere at the university.
The 100-percent smoke-free policy, which went into effect on Aug. 1, 2009, prohibits smoking in all buildings, university-owned vehicles and on the grounds of the university’s three campuses, as well as at off-site UB locations, such as the UB Anderson Gallery and Baird Research Park.
During the transition period, which ended this July 31, smoking had been allowed in areas of parking lots that were more than 100 feet from buildings.
Gary Giovino, professor and chair of the Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, and co-chair of the committee that is spearheading the UBreathe Free no-smoking initiative, says that overall, the transition period went well, particularly on the South Campus. There were “pockets of problems” on the North Campus, he says, but notes that people may be more likely to comply with the policy now that the transition period is over and the policy is fully in force.
Sharlynn Daun-Barnett, an alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention specialist with Wellness Education Services and a member of the UBreathe Free committee, explains that it’s not uncommon to see some noncompliance during the first few years of a policy such as this one. UB’s goal is not hard enforcement, she says, but rather to raise expectations among faculty, staff and students that they no longer will have to deal with secondhand smoke on campus.
“It’s not about ‘do this or else’; it’s about respecting the people around you and trying to do the right thing and not hurting anyone else,” she says.
Giovino points out that tobacco smoke is not just a nuisance for the non-smoker: There is no threshold level for exposure.
“If you can smell tobacco smoke, you’re breathing cancer-causing chemicals,” he says.
Moreover, discarded cigarette butts are a major source of pollution and take an average of 25 years to decompose, he says.
Members of the UB community must “own the fact that the campus environment is theirs; they need to keep it clean and keep it healthy,” he adds.
Both Giovino and Daun-Barnett stress that “respect” is key to the success of UB’s smoke-free policy: smokers are asked to respect the smoke-free campus environment, while non-smokers are urged— if they feel comfortable doing so—to “speak up in a respectful way” when reminding smokers of the smoke-free policy and asking them to put out their cigarettes.
A variety of resources are available on campus to assist smokers who want to quit the habit, Daun-Barnett says. These range from free nicotine replacement therapy and quit smoking walk-in clinics to peer support groups and personal “quit coaches.” Click here for more information.
In addition, Ty Patterson, director of the Center of Excellence for Tobacco-Free Campus Policy, will visit UB Sept. 23-24 to speak with students and meet with individual units and campus groups to discuss how faculty and staff can be leaders in promoting a smoke-free campus culture. Contact Daun-Barnett at 645-2837, ext. 5, or sd62@buffalo.edu for more information.
Giovino says the UBreathe Free committee will be “constantly assessing what we are doing to attain the goal of being a smoke-free campus.”
“We’ve made great progress; the culture at UB has changed,” he says, pointing out that the more the culture changes, the fewer deaths from lung cancer, heart attack and emphysema there will be in the long run.
“We view this as a process; while we’ve made incredible progress, there still is a way to go.”
Adds Daun-Barnett: “We’ve had some growing pains, but we’re definitely on the right track.”
Reader Comments
john lowry jr says:
Why make rules that won't be followed?
If I could have a dollar for every butt I picked up in the entrance ways I could retire...and that's just since your last august plan to smoke 100 feet from the buildings. Now that's there's NO SMOKING on campus, the ones I have collected ALREADY could only probably get me a house, boat and a new car. What a joke!!! You want to GO GREEN....Try making the kids throw the trash in the cans and pee somewhere near the urnal.
Posted by john lowry jr, cleaner, 09/08/10
Gary L says:
Its a good thing that UB wants to make their campuses smoke free, but isn't it difficult for smokers to quit? People get side effect from not getting their fix of nicotine, almost the same thing if someone does not have their fix of caffeine. UB should give out free Nicorette (nicotine gum) to smokers that are seen smoking on campus, or even nicotine patches. This way, they can help curb smoking in general and help the smokers community in all. If UB is so strongly for the UB breath free then this would help. I am a smoker.
Posted by Gary L, Alumni, 09/08/10
Brian P says:
Here's food for thought for all of my toxicology-minded friends out there. If everything is toxic and nothing is without toxicity, and what makes something toxic is just a level of dose, what is the huge deal about smelling cigarette smoke outside? The secondhand smoke one may encounter outside has a very very low concentration of carcinogens. In consideration maybe we should sod the roads on campus and use horses for travel to avoid similar levels of outdoor carcinogens from diesel engines... But if we did that everyone would be up in arms about methane from their feces contributing to global warming.
Posted by Brian P, student, 09/08/10
Brian P says:
It seems that the UB breath free people are caught up in in a bout of histeria over smokers on campus. It doesn't matter whether or not I am a smoker, I am inclined to agree with Einstein that the government (in this case the University) should not enact a law that it cannot enforce since it undermines its authority. On one hand when students feel that they're breaking the school rules and could be given community service for smoking a cigarette, they are breaking a law that they feel is unjust, (what is more american than that?) On the other hand it encourages defiance of authority, who's to say that making smokers feel like "campus criminals" will not make them act like "campus criminals?"
Posted by Brian P, student, 09/08/10
Bill Wachob says:
The "it's my right to smoke" argument is specious. Smoking is deadly, period. An article I read years ago referenced scores of poisons contained in cigarette smoke. Researchers tell us that there is no threshhold level for exposure to cigarette smoke (repeated above). In other words a person can get ill (e.g. cancer, breathing problems, etc.) from any exposure to second hand smoke. One can live weeks without food, days without water, and minutes without air. We don't have a "right" to dump poison into drinking water, why should we have a "right" to dump poison into the air people breathe, particularly in a public place in a public institution? Would people defending a "right" to smoke IN PUBLIC agree that poisoning their drinking water ought to be illegal? Then why not smoking?
Posted by Bill Wachob, Senior Assistant Dean, School of Nursing, 09/08/10
Michael A says:
As a student and a smoker, I whole heartedly support UB's lackluster effort at preventing me from smoking.
I will continue to smoke as I walk during the ten minutes I have between my two classes; which, by the way, are not a part of my major because UB has not hired enough instructors in my department.
So for as long as UB continues to try to enforce this stupid lifestyle law, attempting to prevent me from enacting my way of life as I normally would (which some people don't seem to care about), I'm going to continue living my life as I see fit.
And perhaps start expressing it in more hilarious and extravagant ways as a form of protest. Hookah Party by the lake, anyone?
Posted by Michael A, Student, 09/08/10
Jason Z says:
This is all fine and dandy what is the point when people are still walking around campus smoking. When are we going to see this policy enforced....
Posted by Jason Z, student, 09/07/10
Cari M says:
As a non-smoker, I am all for anti-smoking campaigns. HOWEVER, students (Paying members of the University) do have a right to smoke on campus, as long as it's not offending anyone nearby. I was asked today by a gentleman if I minded him smoking around the corner. I didn't mind at all, it's his right to smoke, and my ability to move. We can't force all students and faculty off campus. We complain about the toxins from cigarette smoke, but what about the fumes from exhausts of the cars driving off campus? If you ask me...a cigarette's lingering smell is hardly as dangerous (or as obnoxious) as the pollution from vehicles.
Posted by Cari M, Get over it, 09/07/10
Renee MApp says:
As a nonsnmoker, I am quite pleased with the decision to become a SMOKE FREE campus. For those who've said that nonsmokers should "Just walk past", "Don't breathe when you walk by", or "You don't smell it on you all day," those are not wise comments. Smoke travels for MILES!
For years I've been angry with inconsiderate smokers who block the entrances with their bodies & clouds of toxic death that they're willing to be encased in, but, I am not! The second that I inhale cigarette smoke my airwaves close up. None of you care about my health. As well, just like each of you smell like an ashtray ALL DAY, we nonsmokers who "just walk past it" DO smell it on our clothing & our hair ALL DAY. You wouldn't know because that's the way you smell anyway. Now, if they'd only PLEASE enforce the rule!
Posted by Renee MApp, Biomedical STEP Program Coordinator, 09/07/10
Joy James says:
Nicotine is addictive and has been compared to being as "addictive" as heroin. How successful are heroin addicts without intervention? I know and recognize the difference in the dangers of heroin vs nicotine, but UB needs to recognize that asking an addicted person to just stop that behavior is not going to work (unless they were already at the point on their own). Whether it is the danger to the smoker or the second hand smoke, those reasons may and usually are not enough for many smokers to quit. We have some of the best researchers in the country, yet on this issue this community is not recognizing that each smoker is an individual, will react differently, and depending on how long they have been addicted, each may need different levels of help to quit. Will they quit on their own??
Posted by Joy James, Addictions - Smoking, 09/07/10
Lyubov Yelinson says:
Have you seen anyone following the policy?
I wish UB wouldn't waste so much money on trying to implement this ridiculous policy, printing and posting the signs, and manufacturing silly campaign knickknacks.
Nobody cares anyway.
Posted by Lyubov Yelinson, Adjunct Instructor, 09/06/10
John DiCorso says:
Ridiculous policy--If the university was truly concerned with the students health, they would ban all "junk" foods from the campus. There are more health related issues caused by people being over weight than by smoking a few cigarettes. Diabetes,high blood pressure,clolesterol unbalances and the like. I know more people in their 80s that smoke . Clearly, smoking is a very bad habit:however, suggesting to the students that the school is concerned with their health because now they won't smell tobacco for a second as they pass them is obsurd. A few selected areas about the campus for smokers is the way to go.
Posted by John DiCorso, Instructor, 09/06/10
Michael Woldenberg says:
I do not smoke. I do not like to smell second hand smoke. Cigarette butts on the ground are disgusting. Smoking is a serious threat to the health of smokers and non=smokers. Members of my family have died of lung cancer.
HOWEVER, the 100 percent non-smoking rule on our campus is arbitrary. If this rule is somehow strictly enforced, the administration may decide to enforce other new rules on the whole campus.
I would think that the University could provide smoking stations, isolated from the rest of the campus population. Essentially, this is what has been done for the past year. This has rule has been honored by smokers on the North Campus.
Posted by Michael Woldenberg, Professor Emeritus, 09/06/10
Ben Lytle says:
As a nonsmoker, I was greatly offended by the implementation of UBreathe Free. It is my fellow students right to choose to smoke, so long as they don't reduce my quality of air by any noticeable amount. With the exception of a few trouble spots on campus two years ago, that was the case. Then, if there was someone smoking in a non-smoking area that was being inconsiderate, I would politely ask them to move to an area in which smoking was allowed. Now that UBreathe Free is in effect, I respect my fellow students right to smoke when I see it, because there is no convenient place to tell them to go to. Smoking is their right, and I don't have the hubris to think that I can take that away.
Posted by Ben Lytle, Student, 09/05/10
Michelle Morgan says:
Where in the Dr G. Medical Examiner is either campus smoke free? So I do not have to use a fog horn and compass to find my way to class.
Posted by Michelle Morgan, Student, 09/04/10
Jon P says:
I go to North campus and am a smoker. When I do have a ciggarette I do not think it is realistic for me to have to leave campus. I go well out of my way to avoid populated areas, and am usually behind or on the side of a building, and have starting throwing my ciggarette butts in the garbage. I rarely see people smoking next to crowded area's and dont agree with that. But when I walk 200 ft out of the way and stand next to a filthy dumpster to have a smoke to make sure im not bothering anyone, I expect no one to bother me.
Posted by Jon P , Student, 09/04/10
Alex Van Fleet says:
How much money from tobacco taxes in New York State goes to help fund the SUNY program? When I could only smoke in parking lots, I was fine with that. I respected the campus policy and concerns of the non-smokers. Now that I have no desigated area to smoke and almost nowhere to put my cigarette butts, I do not care where I smoke. You will now see me walking around campus with a cigarette in my mouth to the day I graduate.
Posted by Alex Van Fleet, Just one question, 09/04/10
Abby Hopkins says:
Should be interesting to see how many accidents occur during winter, when students have to drive off of campus for a smoke.
Posted by Abby Hopkins, ., 09/03/10
Nick LoBosco says:
It seems to me the same points over and over again. lets try to address this all. 1) I PAY TO GO HERE - well, yes! yes you do. However so do the non-smokers. We all should have known before-hand that this campus was smoke-free and if it was that big of an issue, chosen a different school. 2) JUST WALK PAST SMOKERS - inhaling smoke is your choice, by being places where non-smokers are, you are unwillingly pushing your habits on to them, as they have no choice. You should move, not them, but that gets annoying. (in smokers favor, there should be areas) 3) NO ENFORCEMENT - nope, get on that UB. 4) NO AREAS - there SHOULD be areas, but they would have to be where snow doesn't affect and that goes back to point 2 so its rough to find good spots for them. But it is your legal right.
Posted by Nick LoBosco, COMPROMISE IS KEY, ON EVERY SIDE, 09/03/10
Julia z. says:
I pay to go to school here. I am not wasting my time to drive off campus in between a class to smoke a cigarette. This is a waste of time. Sure, the non-smokers get irritated when smelling cigarrette smoke. Get over it, it takes two seconds to walk by a person smoking and you do not smell it consistently throughout the day. It's not like we are smoking in a classroom. If people believe that this "rule" is actually going to be obeyed they are over their head. If we can't smoke around a building, okay, fine...we can move to a parking lot. But there is no way in hell I am driving off campus!
Posted by Julia z., Rediculous, 09/03/10
James Kistner says:
I smoke. Let Simpson take his facist policies with him. The 'science' behind passive smoke is better than global warmin, but not by much. Both are lazy liberal progressive ideologies being exercised in the name of the precautionary principle, to control other people. Sad in America... perhaps it was initiiated by a communist visiting professor... ya, Simpson again.
Posted by James Kistner, Master of Urban Planning, 09/03/10
Amanda McCormick says:
I understand the concerns from the NON-Smokers, but some people do live on campus and are smokers. Since the removal of the ash trays there have been even more trash on the ground. I believe that there should be areas around campus that do allow smoking. The whole smoking issue has been on the states mind from no smoking policies to raising taxes. I say that it is my given right to smoke or not to smoke, but what happens if every smoker didn't smoke period. I believe that the state will go after another given right until we have no choices left to make. Rule makers should have consideration for everyone, even the smokers. I will comply with FAIR rules, but they have to be fair. I'm a vote for designated areas around campus.
Posted by Amanda McCormick, Undergrad Student , 09/02/10
Amy F. says:
My issue with UB's smoke-free policy lies in the fact that I LIVE on this campus. I am paying money and spend the majority of my time here; if I want to have a cigarette, I want the freedom to be able to do that in reasonable proximity to my place of residence. Neither does it make sense nor is it especially safe for me and others to have to go off campus (to where - the highway?) to smoke. Also, cigarettes ARE legal - albeit controversial and irritating to many people. I hope I speak for most smokers on campus when i say that I try to be as respectful as possible when going (often alone now, lest I be glared at or reprimanded) for a smoke; I make a point to ask if I'll be bothering anyone around me and keep away from confined spaces where someone may be unable to avoid the smell.
Posted by Amy F., Undergrad, 09/02/10
Tim R. says:
I'm sorry but this is just a silly "rule." First week of classes this week and I've already seen probably 20 people smoking, just in the two minutes a day I spend walking to and from class. Put the ashtray cans back since this "rule" is meaningless, at least save the environment instead of having people throw their butts on the sidewalk.
Posted by Tim R., Student, 09/02/10
Jon Lines says:
Nice to know that UB has now joined the nanny state. Yes, we shouldn't smoke around other people. Yes, we should throw our cigarette butts out in appropriate containers. This has been done before. It didn't work then. It won't work now. Staff who work there 8 hours a day aren't going to go off-campus to smoke. And since the university has decided to take away the ashtrays, now people do throw there butts everywhere. So, I won't smoke near you so you won't be exposed to the remote possibility of being exposed to any toxic smoke. And I'll throw away my butts somewhere other than the ground. In return, leave me alone.
Posted by Jon Lines, PhD student, 09/02/10
Frank C. says:
This policy is not even enforced at all. Ok, there should not be smoking right by buildings were everyone walks past. How about the idea of designated areas? You can't just stop a smoker from smoking by saying there is a no smoking policy without even enforcing it. And as for ellicott people should be allowed to smoke outside without any consequences. Its were they live...their home for a year. UB telling someone to smoke is not going to work any time soon
Posted by Frank C., says, 09/02/10
Jessica L. says:
I, like some who have posted before me, belive that this really needs to be enforced. Every day I have had to hold my breath walking to and from classes because people have been smoking. I also think that this policy should be in order strictly because of the health issues. How long it takes to decompose shouldn't be one of the main factors in why this policy in place. The health of everyone on campus is WAY more important than the enviornment in a situation like this.
Posted by Jessica L., Student, 09/02/10
Sheila Carroll says:
THIS NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED. I hate having to smell the smoke, but is even more irritating when I cannot sit outside the commons and have lunch because a group of students is openly breaking the rules and smoking at the table next to mine, and nobody does anything about it. I think it was a great idea to have a smoke free campus, but if nobody is going to punish those still smoking then it is pointless. It is like having a speed limit without ever giving people a ticket when they speed.
Posted by Sheila Carroll, student, 09/02/10
Daniel Fishkin says:
Perhaps designated smoking areas would solve both problems. the areas could be placed in low volume areas where the smoke not dare reach a nonsmokers lungs and perhaps a little ash tray. there in use all over the world, this is not a solution. if there were designated smoking areas they could be out of the public's way and when there was someone smoking out of said areas, they would be directed there. This policy essentially is like telling an addicted person to stop doing that thing that their addicted to (which happens to be legal by the way). It polarizes opinion.
Posted by Daniel Fishkin, Lets be realistic, 09/02/10
Jamieson Brady says:
I wish they didn't remove the ash trays from the campus, because now everybody just litters them on the ground. Now we have to breath smoke AND look at all the ugly litter. Before we just had to breath smoke.
Posted by Jamieson Brady, Student, 09/02/10
Ryan M says:
I never really understood this policy; people LIVE here. Fine if you want to restrict it in buildings and near them, but to say the entire campus is off limits is borderline facist. On top of that, they aren't even telling the truth in order to back this policy up. Right up there it says cigarette butts take on average 25 years to decompose, which is COMPLETELY wrong. A butt usually takes anywhere from 1 to 12 years to decompose, depending on the environment. Extremely dry, hot areas will take longer, but a place like Buffalo? Odds are it wouldn't even take a year. It frustrates me that such a controlling, overbearing policy was implemented based on misinformation. I'm not a smoker, by the way.
Posted by Ryan M, Student, 09/02/10
George Alessi says:
I am all for this no smoking policy but it is not enforce what so ever. It is ludicrous as well to try to make the students stop when the employees smoke just as much as we do.
This needs to be enforced for everyone or it might as well not be a smoke free campus.
Posted by George Alessi, Mr., 09/02/10
Jordan H says:
This is such a joke. "Respect" will not enforce the policy or prevent people from smoking on campus. If all it took was respect for UBSmokeFree to be a success, then the policy wouldn't even be needed, since if a smoker was respectful he wouldn't be smoking in public in the first place. And I totally agree with Mary, if the employees and faculty do it then why will students not.
Posted by Jordan H, Undergrad, 09/02/10
mary galuski says:
I think it's kind of crazy to ask the students to stop smoking when EVERY single time I go to ellicott there are UB workers outside smoking in the Spaulding lot. So since I pay to go here and the workers are gettin paid to be here, I'll stop as soon as I don't see them doin it but otherwise it seems like there are better ways for UB to spend their money than buying stickers and signs that nobody NOT EVEN THIER EMPLOYEEs listen to!!
Posted by mary galuski, student, 09/01/10
Elizabeth Millhollen says:
I see people smoking next to buildings, outside the building doors, and generally ON campus most every time I walk outside at the North Campus.
Posted by Elizabeth Millhollen, Grad Student, 09/01/10