Post Classifieds
Smoking ban doomed to fail
By John Myers
On October 17, 2012
The public perception of smoking has taken a drastic turn for the worse and it isn't
without merit. Cigarette smoke has been shown to harm nearly every organ in the
body according to the Center for Disease Control, contributing to an estimated one
out of five deaths per year.
Research on the adverse health effects of smoking has driven major reform in public
policy and legislation since the early 1970s when cigarette ads were banned from
TV and radio. Since then there have been a slew of anti-smoking campaigns and
commercials intended to make smoking "un-cool" or shock people out of picking up
the habit.
You may be aware that Buffalo State has enacted a smoke-free policy on campus
in the name of promoting public health. Phase one, or the "Awareness Phase" was
enacted in September of 2011 by spreading awareness and counseling students and
faculty on the reformed smoking policy.
Currently, we are in the second phase of the no smoking policy, or "soft
enforcement" where students are expected to self-monitor their own smoking on
campus.
How the college moves into future stages is yet to be negotiated.
This new action follows in the footsteps of other SUNY schools such as the
University at Buffalo that have already enacted a smoke-free policy in a similar
fashion. In fact, this past June a SUNY trustee board approved a ban across the 64
SUNY campuses statewide to take effect by 2014. This will affect 468,000 students
and 88,000 employees.
To me, the enforcement of this policy seems like a stretch. Keeping individuals from
smoking is like trying to stop the rain from falling. As an usher at Ralph Wilson
Stadium, which adopted its own non-smoking policy last year, I have seen people go
to great lengths and even get kicked out of games for their beloved smokes.
Professor Tom McCray from the communication department even recalls when
teachers would pass out ashtrays to students in classrooms thirty years ago. I am
not suggesting we regress to smoking indoors and abolish New York State's Clean
Indoor Air Act, but stigmatizing smokers on campus is not a realistic option.
On the other hand, non-smokers should not have to be subjected to second hand
smoke and the dangers that go along with it. Nor should students be allowed to toss
cigarette butts wherever they see fit.
The establishment of designated smoking areas away from building entrances and
air ducts would be the most amicable option for all. This way we are not ostracizing
those who pay to attend public institutions or the employees who work there, and
the litter of cigarette butts would be contained to these specific areas.
The "enforcement" of this policy at Buffalo State has been mild at best. Students and
faculty can be seen smoking openly on campus with no repercussions.
However, with Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher at the helm of the Task Force for a
Tobacco-Free SUNY, consequences for smoking will only increase moving forward.
John Myers can be reached by email at myers.record@live.com.
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