Changes in residence halls will have some students breathing easier next fall.
The Housing Options Committee has granted South Hubbard and East Shaw halls a ban on smoking. The committee also made East McDonel Hall’s second floor a smoke-free environment. Two floors in Holden Hall also have been given smoke-free status for next fall.
Adam Raezler, the Residence Halls Association representative to the Housing Options Committee, said the decision was made last semester after requests were made by the halls.
“This is a big issue with incoming freshmen and parents,” Raezler said.
The committee takes requests during fall semester from individual floors for noise, alcohol and smoke-free environments in residence halls.
Although RHA decided in October not to ban smoking outside of residence halls, Raezler said association members are not against limiting smoking inside every residence hall.
“If the RHA had supported that bill, it would have been sent to the Board of Trustees,” he said. “We are looking at Big Ten schools and how they have dealt with this. Indiana University is looking to eliminate smoking in its residence halls.”
Raezler said he has spoken to several students and doesn’t think they will support a ban on smoking in residence halls.
The University of Michigan’s Residence Halls Association fell short of passing a resolution to ban smoking in residence halls at its Thursday meeting.
Christopher Nakamura, U-M association executive vice president, said RHA members voted against the resolution after a semester of discussion.
“This is a two-sided issue,” he said. “There is the right to clean air and a clean living environment versus personal liberty.”
The opposition to the resolution said people should be allowed the freedom of smoking in their homes, Nakamura said.
Josh Minor, MSU’s RHA internal vice president, said RHA has not taken a stand on the smoking issue inside resident rooms.
“If it becomes a campuswide issue, RHA has the resources to really try and lobby for what students and residents want,” Minor said. “If they are not going to advocate this, then the executive board isn’t going to spend time on it.”
Zoology junior Angela Larson said she requested to live on a smoke-free floor because she didn’t want to live in that environment.
“A lot of people just go outside to smoke,” Larson said. “As long as people smoke where they are supposed to, I don’t mind.”
Ryon Lockhart, a fisheries and wildlife sophomore, said he can’t stand the smoky environment he lives in.
“I think it should be banned, but if they are going to allow it, it should be done by floor,” he said. “I don’t care if people smoke, just not around me.”
