Spring Break
Group looks to put out on-campus smoking
Today's public meeting invites campus to advocate a two-year extinguishing plan
Kimberly Tsao
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: News
Currently, smokers at SJSU have to be 25 feet away from the doors and windows on campus. To make the rule stricter, the SJSU Smoke-Free Policy Committee is scheduled to have an open forum today at 4 p.m. in the Student Union's Almaden Room.
The committee plans to present results from a campus assessment that was conducted by a graduate-level health science class. Students, faculty, administration and nonprofit groups were invited, said Gina Vittori, chair of the smoke-free policy committee.
"A smoke-free policy is intended to encourage students not to smoke and to quit if they do smoke," Vittori said. "There's no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke."
She said some people have allergies to secondhand smoke, and some college students have the misconception that smoking decreases their stress levels when it actually does the opposite.
Vittori said the committee recommended "readying the campus for (being smoke-free)." The committee proposed phasing SJSU into a smoke-free campus in two years. It hopes to set up designated areas during the first year and be completely smoke-free by the next, Vittori said.
"I think a lot of times smokers end up smoking in the same area anyway," said Mark Wagner, a junior civil engineering major. "I don't see a problem with it as long as it's outside, not inside."
Student Kristine Vu said she disagreed.
"I hate walking around, and people are behind me and just blowing smoke in my face," said Vu, a freshman biological science major. "I think it's horrible."
The committee is vying for the support of Associated Students, the Academic Senate and, eventually, the president's office, Vittori said. A closed meeting with the A.S. University Affairs Committee was scheduled two weeks ago.
The A.S. committee couldn't vote, however, because there were not enough people present, Vittori said. The vote has been rescheduled for today at 3 p.m., she added.
If the smoke-free policy is approved, it will have to be approved by other university departments. Vittori said that afterward she hoped the policy will be passed as an Academic Senate resolution and as a presidential directive.
Vittori was scheduled to teach students how to quit smoking in a six-session class this semester.
"The class is free for all students, and it provides a non-judgmental atmosphere where students get tools and strategies for quitting as well as support for quitting."
She said it was cancelled because no one signed up.
She held the Ash Kickers Stop Smoking class last Spring. Students set a quit date, but she said she didn't know if there would be more classes in the future.
Students who are interested in joining the committee can send an e-mail to healthylifesjsu@yahoo.com.
Vittori also recommends the California Smoker's Helpline (1-800-NO-BUTTS) and the Freedom from Smoking online quit program offered through the American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org).
The committee plans to present results from a campus assessment that was conducted by a graduate-level health science class. Students, faculty, administration and nonprofit groups were invited, said Gina Vittori, chair of the smoke-free policy committee.
"A smoke-free policy is intended to encourage students not to smoke and to quit if they do smoke," Vittori said. "There's no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke."
She said some people have allergies to secondhand smoke, and some college students have the misconception that smoking decreases their stress levels when it actually does the opposite.
Vittori said the committee recommended "readying the campus for (being smoke-free)." The committee proposed phasing SJSU into a smoke-free campus in two years. It hopes to set up designated areas during the first year and be completely smoke-free by the next, Vittori said.
"I think a lot of times smokers end up smoking in the same area anyway," said Mark Wagner, a junior civil engineering major. "I don't see a problem with it as long as it's outside, not inside."
Student Kristine Vu said she disagreed.
"I hate walking around, and people are behind me and just blowing smoke in my face," said Vu, a freshman biological science major. "I think it's horrible."
The committee is vying for the support of Associated Students, the Academic Senate and, eventually, the president's office, Vittori said. A closed meeting with the A.S. University Affairs Committee was scheduled two weeks ago.
The A.S. committee couldn't vote, however, because there were not enough people present, Vittori said. The vote has been rescheduled for today at 3 p.m., she added.
If the smoke-free policy is approved, it will have to be approved by other university departments. Vittori said that afterward she hoped the policy will be passed as an Academic Senate resolution and as a presidential directive.
Vittori was scheduled to teach students how to quit smoking in a six-session class this semester.
"The class is free for all students, and it provides a non-judgmental atmosphere where students get tools and strategies for quitting as well as support for quitting."
She said it was cancelled because no one signed up.
She held the Ash Kickers Stop Smoking class last Spring. Students set a quit date, but she said she didn't know if there would be more classes in the future.
Students who are interested in joining the committee can send an e-mail to healthylifesjsu@yahoo.com.
Vittori also recommends the California Smoker's Helpline (1-800-NO-BUTTS) and the Freedom from Smoking online quit program offered through the American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org).
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