Smoking ban enforcement begins

Miriam Arias/ Staff Writer

The University will be taking active measures to enforce the tobacco-free, smoke-free campus regulation.  

Back in Jan. 2011, the University began its smoke-free policy. The tobacco-smoke free regulation prohibited the use of any smoking or tobacco product in the University.  

The policy was accompanied by a prolonged grace period in which individuals seen smoking, were asked to stop, but did not receive any disciplinary action.  

As of Sept. 10, however, this grace period has met its end.  The University will now be taking measures to prevent smoking and tobacco use on campus.  

Mariela Gabaroni, assistant director of University Health Services, said, “We became tobacco-free and smoke-free to create a healthier environment for our university community.”

The University does not stand alone on this matter. Several other colleges and universities in Florida have enacted a ban on campus grounds; however the university will be the first school in Florida to implement an official enforcement policy.

According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, as of July 1, there are over 774 smoke-free colleges and universities in the nation.  Over 500 of these have a tobacco-free regulations, which regulate the use of all tobacco products.

In Florida alone, there are 16 colleges and universities that support and enforce this ban. Among them are the University of Florida, Nova Southeastern University and eight Miami-Dade College campuses. The University of Central Florida and the University of Miami’s Medical Campus are also smoke-free, but they do allow other forms of tobacco.  

According to Gabaroni, enforcement of this regulation has been an option since the beginning.   

Individuals caught violating the tobacco-free policy will be issued a Notice of Violation.  A database will be kept to record student and employee violations.  Repercussions will follow in accordance to how many times individuals violate the policy.  

Upon first the first recorded violation, individuals will be issued a warning along with information on managing tobacco intake. 

Second-time offenders will be required to sign up for two smoking/tobacco management sessions with University Health Services within two weeks of receiving the notice. They can also choose to attend sessions outside of the University grounds, but must show proof of their visits.  

Individuals have 45 days to fulfill this requisite.

Failure to do so will land offenders a third degree violation.  

Both students and employees who are given a third violation will be sent to either student conduct or employee labor relations, depending on their status in the University. According to Gabaroni, this will likely be handled case by case.  

The policy will be enforced by police service technicians and police officers.

Students’ responses on the topic are varied.

Senior Denise Solis, art and art history major indicated that she feels very strongly about the University continuing to be smoke free. She did state however, “I have not seen anyone smoking near the main buildings.”

Junior and communications major, Annelise Ferrer has encountered more than a few individuals smoking and does not believe this enforcement will make a difference.     

“There will not be a difference. I have seen people doing it in private places where they can’t get caught,” Ferrer said.

In support of the enforcement, Cesar Larancuent, senior and international relations major, said, “I think it’s a great measure to protect those of us who do not smoke because what most people don’t understand is that when they smoke, they make us passive smokers and are making the same damage to our health as they do to theirs.”

In rebuttal, Kris Saad, digital media studies major, said, “I think it’s unfair and unethical especially for those who live on campus because they have nowhere to smoke legally and if they live here, they have no means to get off campus. If they’re going to ban [smoking], there should at least be smoking zones.”  

1 Comment on "Smoking ban enforcement begins"

  1. I was against smoking bans when I was a smoker. But since I switched to electronic cigarettes two years, I don’t have to worry about smoking bans, tar, smell or really high cigarette taxes! http://www.savecig.com

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