Tobacco ban stirs heated debate

Texas State University enacted a ban on tobacco use on all areas of campus. The ban was enacted on Aug. 1, 2011, and has been met with both optimism and opposition from students.

Once the ban was agreed upon, students and faculty were notified of the new rule by email. Denise Trauth, president of TSU, said that the decision to ban tobacco from campus was based on scientific evidence that tobacco poses health risks.

A survey was also taken from a group of students which concluded that 67 percent of students were non-smokers and favored a ban.

There are many students who believe a smoking ban was a good decision. “I understand not everyone wants to smell like smoke,” Natalie Oliver ,elementary education major, said. Oliver is a smoker herself, and agrees that the ban has had good effects on the campus.

There are many who agree with the smoking ban, but argue that people should have somewhere to smoke if they wish to. “I think they should have made designated smoking areas,” Collin Couey, english major, said. “I don’t like walking behind someone who is smoking, but I don’t think they should’ve gone straight to a ban.”

The smoking ban has also had an impact on litter and the cleanliness of campus grounds. “I’ve already noticed less cigarette butts on the ground,” Courtney Williams said. Although the ash trays have been removed from campus trashcans, there is less litter on the ground.

Smokers have moved to parts of campus where the no smoking rule is rarely enforced. “I feel like the smoking ban really pushes smokers into corners, literally, and makes us have to hide,” Collin Sutton said. ”Some people choose not to hide it, but only because they haven’t been approached by authority yet.”

Benches between buildings and corners of campus have become areas where smokers go to escape authority and criticism from other students. Tiffany Rainy said that she has been approached by other students, including a female student who told her she was wrong for smoking. Many smokers, however, say they have never been approached while smoking.

The policy calling for a tobacco-free campus asks students and faculty to voluntarily comply. There has been no funding set aside to specifically combat tobacco use on campus.

Enforcement of the ban seems to be lagging, and many are skeptical as to whether the ban will actually be successful. Wendy Barriga, microbiology major, said that people will need to care about the ban and want it to be enforced.

Students are asked to notify authority if someone does not abide by the rules. The University Police Department has said it will take action against those that repeatedly don’t comply.