Eastern Michigan University considers campus-wide smoking ban
Eastern Michigan University is considering a campus-wide smoking ban as the University of Michigan gears up to go smoke-free July 1.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
But before any ban, EMU is planning a two-week educational campaign in the fall to remind those smoking near entrances of the university's current smoking policy, which bans that practice, said Ellen Gold, the executive director of EMU Health Services.
They're calling the effort "Heads up, butts out," Gold said. The school had a similar two-day campaign about three years ago.
“In my role, that’s the healthiest campus we can create,” Gold said. “Optimally, it would be wonderful if we collectively made a decision to eliminate tobacco use completely from the campus.”
Gold said the school would include representatives from all facets of campus life if it were to construct a smoking ban.
In the mean time, Gold and others at EMU will be watching to see how U-M's campus-wide ban on smoking works - especially from an enforcement perspective, she said.
U-M’s Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn campuses will go smoke-free July 1.
The U-M ban won’t be enforced with tickets from the U-M Department of Public Safety. Instead, it’s voluntary, enforced by signage and the belief that people on campus will respectfully ask smokers to stamp out their cigarettes.
Still, repeat violations of the ban at U-M could lead to a workplace violation for an employee or disenrollment of a student under already in-place disciplinary procedures.
Under a state law in place since May 2010, smoking isn’t allowed at workplaces.
At EMU, smoking isn’t allowed within 25 feet of all buildings. Gold would like to see that distance increased to 50 feet if the school decides against all-out ban on lighting up, she said.
But there would be challenges unique to the EMU campus in either case, she said. Pushing smoking off campus would mean students who live in some residence halls would be pushed to isolated areas to smoke, not busy residential or commercial streets such is the case in Ann Arbor.
A previous version of this story said EMU is planning a two-week ban. That is incorrect; EMU is planning a two-week educational campaign to remind smokers of its current policy.
Juliana Keeping covers general assignment and health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
Macabre Sunset
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 6:38 p.m.
Smokers need to ask themselves why this happening. To the many of the 80% of adults who don't smoke, second-hand smoke is very unpleasant. And it contains hundreds of chemicals, many of which are known to cause cancer. We asked the people sitting next to us at work if they would mind smoking elsewhere. They would mind. And now we have a complete ban on smoking in workplaces. We asked if people would mind not smoking while we ate our meals. After all, smell is a big part of enjoyment of food - it's very closely connected to taste. They would. And now we have a complete ban on smoking in restaurants. We asked if people would mind not congregating outside doorways, producing a cloud of smoke that we had to navigate every time we went in or out. They would. And now the workplace smoking ban is extended to within 50 feet of buildings. We asked if people would mind not smoking as they walked in crowded areas, so we weren't trapped in a trail of smoke as we went from building to building. They would. And now we have a campus-wide smoking ban. Smokers see this as infringing on their rights. But we're not asking them to stop smoking. We're just asking them to keep it away from us. I don't think this is a winning battle for smokers. It will be banned entirely in the near future, as tobacco is such a dangerous drug, and the children of smokers are the victims least able to advocate for themselves. There's no question that if cigarettes were invented today, they would be banned as illegal drug-delivery devices.
Macabre Sunset
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 8:59 p.m.
That would be an apt comparison if smokers splashed on strangers' legs while peeing into the lake.
Peter Jameson
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 8:20 p.m.
This is the same argument that we've had with prostitution/drugs/etc. Certain people believe that their way of life is better than someone else's. It's all an opinion. Smoking outside is like peeing in a lake. It's not a big deal because it disperses so quickly.
Lac Court Orilles
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 5:16 p.m.
EMU's campus police will try their best to get out of this one because it will make more work for them. The % of smokers at EMU is much greater than that of The University of Michigan. I frequent both campuses and have had to breathe much more smoke at EMU than Michigan. EMU draws from the poor and middle class population which smokes a lot more whereas Michigan draws from the higher end of the wealthy class itself which has fewer smokers. Even with this being said, it is an excellent idea to outlaw smoking on Eastern Michigan's campus because it will improve everyone's health and it will teach EMU students that to enhance their employability they need to stop smoking. No employer wants to hire a college graduate who comes to an interview smelling like the bottom of a bird cage!
SW40
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 5:41 p.m.
Why is it the police departments job to enforce a smoking ban. The state of Michigan uses the health department. If you've been to Ypsilanti or EMU lately I'm sure you can appreciate that I'd rather have our police arresting criminals and protecting campus and the surrounding area and not enforcing a rediculous smoking ban. But I can tell from your comment you have little respect for law enforcement unless it meets your high standards of importance like smoking enforcement.
John A2
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 3:02 p.m.
I agree, but do you really believe it's going to make a difference? How about taking rights away from people, if they get away with passing the rule, what rights are they going to take away next? The best way to do this is a smoking area not too far away from the doors, and place a coal container in the center of the area. This way the smokers have their own area and they will be much more inclined to use it. I am a student who smokes, and I know that smoker stand by the doors and smoke because they need to get back to class as fast as they can. Taking it away completely will cause rebellion, and the students , with out a doubt, will cause more problems. I see no one wants to give smokers any consideration, but that is what they are looking for. Everyone wants consideration.
toofmullets
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 6:20 p.m.
Yes, because not allowing people to smoke somewhere = fascism. Don't tread on me!
John A2
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 4:46 p.m.
Lets not turn the campuses into a fascist society.
xmo
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
Let's start the Washtenaw County Smoking Nazi party! We can wear green or maize shirts and go around and enforce the no-smoking bans. After we stamp out smoking then we can go after salt, Fat and what ever else we want to stamp out!
toofmullets
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.
hopefully your crew also focuses on very poor slippery slope arguments on the internets too!
Huron74
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 2:47 p.m.
They should have designated spots for tobacco addicts to fix. Otherwise the UM police will have to play cat & mouse games of trying to bust them smoking. And, as always, there are the associated problems of suppressing unpopular behavior. Litter, fire hazards, smoking in rest rooms,vandalism, and all the rest. A clear case of the majority acting in an oppressive., heavy handed, ill-liberal manner.
Ignatz
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 4:11 p.m.
The U-M policy is enforced with HR actions, not by using the police. Nothing like losing your job because of a legal activity.
lumberg48108
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 2:10 p.m.
@scott Alas, the amount of "bad air" I breathe from various emissions has to be 1000 times the amount I get from smoker who I pass outside and get a whiff ... I cannot escape the diesels, trucks, trains, Harley's and other air I breath by holding my breath for a few seconds (like I do when I pass a smoker)...
joe golder
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 6:12 p.m.
Hey EMU!!! I haven't been able to open the windows on the east side of my home for over 10 years. The cars, trucks, semis, and buses spewing dirty emissions 15" feet from my house are unacceptable. Your worried about people smoking outside. Please Practice what you preach. Oh by the way could you clean all the cig butts, trash from the fast food places in the student center you own of my property once in a while please.
ScioReader
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 1:40 p.m.
Long overdue and sorely needed. As a faculty member, I'm tired of having to hold my breath everytime I enter or leave an academic building. And the filth of cigarette butts outside the buildings is just awful.
John A2
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 3 p.m.
I agree, but do you really believe it's going to make a difference? How about taking rights away from people, if they get away with passing the rule, what rights are they going to take away next? The best way to do this is a smoking area not too far away from the doors, and place a coal container in the center of the area. This way the smokers have their own area and they will be much more inclined to use it. I am a student who smokes, and I know that smoker stand by the doors and smoke because they need to get back to class as fast as they can. Taking it away completely will cause rebellion, and the students , with out a doubt, will cause more problems. I see no one wants to give smokers any consideration, but that is what they are looking for. Everyone wants consideration.
Bogie
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 1:21 p.m.
So I guess, if U of M said, "let's jump off a bridge." EMU would do it. LOL! Be your own university. LOL! The more people make smoking a nuisance; the more young people think it is rebellious. Hence, more will smoke.
toofmullets
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 5:59 p.m.
fwiw, UofM was copying WCC, who has been a smoke-free campus for at least a year now, perhaps longer.
lumberg48108
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 12:56 p.m.
My issue with outside smoking bans is that they dont accomplish anything! I could stand at the bus stop waiting for a bus and breathe all the emissions from the various busses on their routes ... while waiting 50 semi trucks will pass me and then the train comes by ... and so on. Go to Depot Town on cruise night to see all the old cool cars and you will breathe toxic fumes from cars with no muffler or Cat Converter I may be smoke free but i am not breathing clean air; isn't that the goal? at EMU they do not enforce the "25 feet" rule now so why would they enforce 50 feet?
scott
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 1:13 p.m.
carbon dioxide is extremely less "toxic" than arsenic and formaldehyde....
mhirzel
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 12:52 p.m.
Mjc, Of course it has to do with Johnson & Johnson. For every ban of this sort, they reap massive increases in their profits for nicotine replacement products. Why do you think J & J helps fund these do-gooder campaigns through it's Robert Woods Johnson Foundation? It's GREAT for sales!
Eileen
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 12:19 p.m.
These comments are very typical of smokers. They have no regard for others. People will break the rules...so don't have rules? Good one, smokers! "Cinnabar", of course the sidewalk on the edge of campus is public...so why even use that as an example? Duh. And yes, there is binge drinking on campus...but it doesn't cause terminal illness in non-drinkers. Get it?
John A2
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 4:40 p.m.
Your right, it doesn't cause terminal illness in nonsmokers, but can you provide with the link that said it does. Why does everyone think they are God? Another question is I would like to see the the license you carry that says you have a degree in smoker behaviors. I believe you don't carry anything even close to a degree or proof that outside second hand smoke causes cancer. There is one thing for sure, as I sit here with a cigarette hanging from my lips, is that binge drinkers do kill nondrinkers I know because I have a MSW and I have worked in addiction rehabs for the last 25 years. It's much quicker than smoke too. At least second hand smokers will live a fruitful life.
tdw
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 12:30 p.m.
just out of curiosity could you provide a link or proof that people that are exposed to smoke outdoors causes any illness ? ( although I don't even believe indoor second hand smoke causes illness,but that's a different subject ) I bet you can't. And BTW binge drinking doe's not cause illness unless you count killing someone with a car, fighting etc.. as a illness
Rusnak
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 12:01 p.m.
This really is a bunch of feel good nonsense. If I'm walking down the sidewalk on W. Cross along EMU's campus is campus police going to issue a citation, it's public property. I think there are more pressing issues that campus police need to deal with, like theft, underage drinking, sexual assaults etc.....
cinnabar7071
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 11:23 a.m.
Just another feel good law. You have binge drinking on campus every weekend and this is what they go after. We have a smokefree work campus and the only ones who obey it are the non smokers.
skigrl50
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.
Actually if you look at the statistics, you will find that EMU has a much lower rate of binge drinking than most campuses. It could be that the average age of undergrad students is 27 and they are primarily working students.
trespass
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 11:09 a.m.
Chalk up one more reward point for President Coleman and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation! Sounds like she is earning her $240,000 for being on the Johnson & Johnson Board even though she only works for them 4 days a year.
pvitaly
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 12:52 p.m.
What?
MjC
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 12:12 p.m.
Trespass - I understand you're frustrated with Coleman, but do you have to write about it in every post you submit? Your rant has nothing to do with this story. EMU is considering a campus non-smoking policy. It's a good thing. Have a good day.
GoBlue1984
Mon, Jun 27, 2011 : 11:03 a.m.
The University of Michigan: LEADERS and best! :-) Ps. Way to go EMU... I applaud you!