Alan Oner smokes a cigarette outside the Student Union. OSU’s tobacco-free campus policy will be enforced by complaints directed to deans or directors, and smokers are in no danger of citation from the police.
OSU will enforce its new tobacco-free campus policy without help from the police.
OSU adopted the policy in response to the Oklahoma Smoking in Public Places and Indoor Workplaces Act, which the Oklahoma state legislature passed in 2003.
The act requires OSU to adopt regulations for smoking in facilities owned, leased or under the control of the university. OSU decided to make their regulations a tobacco-free policy.
Although the policy was created in response to the 2003 state law, the policy itself is not law. Smokers are in no danger of citation from the police as long as they stay 25 feet away from building entrances, which is state law.
The university is responsible for enforcing the policy it created in regard to all other use of tobacco on campus.
The policy, which is specific on the activities that are now prohibited, is vague when it comes to how the policy will be enforced.
According to the OSU book of policy and procedures, “a complaint against an offender who fails to respond to a request by another, may be referred to a dean, director or other manager. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken for an offender against whom multiple complaints have been received.”
Robin Purdie, director at the Seretean Wellness Center, said the disciplinary action taken depends on the offenders association to OSU.
“If the repeat offender is an employee, they will have to report to their supervisor, just as if they broke the policy on being on time,” Purdie said. “Students will be held to the standards of student conduct.”
OSU does not anticipate having any problems with visitors to the school and the smoking policy.
“Signs are prominent. Visitors usually adhere to the wishes of the place they are visiting,” Purdie said.
The tobacco-free policy says that smoking is regulated in facilities owned ,leased or under the control of the university.
Those who got their hopes up for smoking on the grounds of the ConocoPhillips Alumni Center will be disappointed, as the center, along with USDA, has greed to make it its policy to be tobacco free as well.
The policy reads “courtesy and consideration will be exercised when informing those unaware of and/or in disregard of this policy.”
Purdie said there is no specific committee to enforce the policy, but efforts are being made.
“We are developing ‘reminder cards’ for those that might need a reminder,” Purdie said. “Most people want to adhere to the rules. Other universities have found that the transition was pretty smooth.”
To see frequently asked questions about the new policy and a link to the policy go to http://tobaccostopshere.okstate.edu/FAQ.asp.
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The whole question of enforcement is a huge mess waiting to happen. Given that the responsibility for enforcement lies with supervisors, department heads and deans, the potential for inconsistent enforcement and sanctions looms large. It will be very interesting to see how things unfold when the first termination actions are instituted against an individual.
Some observations from Week 2 of the smoking ban:
Positives
1. I’m getting more exercise as a result of having to walk off-campus three times a day.
2. I’ve met new people.
Negatives
1. I’m actually smoking more. Since it takes at least 10 minutes to walk off campus I smoke two instead my normal one cigarette per break to make the trip worthwhile. Also, I think I’m smoking more on my commutes to and from work.
To use a legal product on campus,
What the hell is wrong with that.
What is it with these anti-smokers??
Just because I don’t smoke I am going to make sure that you don’t smoke on campus.
Mind your own business and you won’t be minding mine.
I seem to recall that when the university first started talking about the smoking ban, it was stated that there would be designated smoking areas located around campus. Where are these areas?!?
What will occur when there is blatant disregard of the policy by first time offenders?
I can see it now… a facebook group organizing a ’smoke in’ on library lawn where hundreds of students congregate to display their disregard for the policy…Deans and department heads surrounding them, equipped with riot gear and ‘courtesy notes’
I have to walk through charcoal lighter fluid fumes and smoke and diesel engine exhaust worse than cigarette smoke to get to the stadium for a football game, but for heavens sake don’t smoke that cigarette! If the drinkers were treated like the smokers there would be an uprising.
I think Frazier has a brilliant idea…