MNSU Smoking Ban Needs Revision

When Brittney Hedges returned to Minnesota State University’s campus for the spring semester, she took a deep sigh of relief and breathed in clean air. The relief she felt was due to the school’s new tobacco and smoke-free policy, which went into effect on Jan. 1 and bans all tobacco use on campus.

Hedges’ relief, however, faded in the following weeks when she realized that the policy, which relies on student enforcement, was unsuccessful and intimidating. Many students were still smoking outside of high-traffic buildings on campus.

The university policy regarding policing the ban states “all members of the campus community are empowered and encouraged to approach and advise violators in a non-confrontational manner.” However, this peer-to-peer enforcement puts well-meaning students like Hedges in uncomfortable situations.

And it isn’t just the non-smokers who are feeling uncomfortable. Holly Theobald, a regular smoker, has been adhering to the new policy and walking to nearby campus dorms – which don’t go tobacco free until this summer -- for her nicotine fix. Even though she is following the rules, she said she’s unlikely to approach anyone else who isn’t.

Issues about how to enforce a smoking ban on campus caused the university to reject the proposal in 2008. In an interview with the Reporter, the then Minnesota State Student Association President, Ryan Anderson, explained that cultural matters would stop students from taking action.

"In our polite Minnesotan society, not many people want to be the one to tell someone to stop smoking,” Anderson said. “We hope not to legislate common courtesy."

Now, four years later, that same ban requiring peer-to-peer enforcement is in place. The University may have intended for the ban to protect students and promote healthy lifestyles, but the ban is clearly being ignored. The enforcement policy should have been revised when officials tabled the issue in 2008, as it has proved ineffective.

If the University truly wants to protect students’ health the smoking policy must be revised. An amendment to the policy touting disciplinary action and fine implementation is necessary for the ban to succeed. But more importantly, university officials should enforce the policy.