By
Daniel Scarpinato
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Smoking ban is nearly a year old, but outline of policy did not include implications for smoking outside UA buildings
When UA President Peter Likins approved a change in the university's smoking policy in June - which banned smoking within 25 feet of all campus buildings - many questioned how the new policy would be enforced.
Melissa McGee, health educator for University of Arizona Campus Health, said enforcing the policy is the job of deans, department heads and directors of buildings on campus and that complaints about smoking should be directed to them. McGee was a member of the committee that drew up the policy.
Wayne Adickles, assistant head of the chemistry department, said that since the policy was issued it has not been discussed by him and his fellow department heads.
"I wouldn't say that we haven't had any complaints," he said. "But I haven't heard one, and we haven't discussed it."
The policy states that complaints about smoking outside UA buildings must include specific information such as location, description of the problem and the names of people involved.
The outline of the policy does not include possible punishment for those caught smoking around the buildings.
McGee said that those in charge of enforcing the policy may chose to give a verbal warning to violators, or simply ask them to leave the area.
Brian Thompson, a marketing sophomore, said he was unaware of the policy, and that no one has ever told him to stop smoking while outside a UA building.
"I don't think they enforce it much," Thompson said. "Why do they have an ashtray outside the building if they don't want anyone to smoke?"
McGee said that when the new policy was initially proposed in the spring, it was met with less resistance than anticipated.
The goal of the policy was aimed at keeping second-hand smoke away from non-smokers and encouraging smokers to quit, McGee said. The goal was not to punish those who smoke.
"It came down to a liability issue," she said. "We had to look at what was going on and the health risks to everyone on campus. Second-hand smoke is a serious risk."
In addition to proposing the smoking policy in the spring - which was presented for approval to ASUA, UA's Faculty Senate, the Staff Advisory Council and the Appointed Personnel Organization Council before reaching Likins' desk - Campus Health has provided classes for UA students and employees interested in quitting smoking.
McGee said two out of every three smokers want to break their habit, but feel they cannot.
