As of May 1, 2010, Michigan citizens who went out to restaurants no longer were asked whether they preferred to sit in a smoking or nonsmoking section, after the passage of the Michigan Smoke-Free Air Law. Although indoor spaces, such as most workplaces and restaurants, now are smoke-free, in most areas of MSU’s campus, the fresh air still is open for smokers’ use.
But with about 20 universities in Michigan now banning smoking on their campuses, it is time MSU made restricting cigarette use on campus a priority. ASMSU, MSU’s student government, has formally endorsed a policy that would ban smoking on MSU’s campus, although administration did not support it. Currently, MSU has a smoke-free policy in all campus buildings, and smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of building entrances.
The University of Michigan is one school within Michigan’s borders that already has banned smoking on its campus, and U.S. health officials are hoping that U-M’s example will encourage other campuses to go smoke-free, too.
Although U-M does not dish out tickets under the policy, as they believe punishment is not the point of the ban, students are expected to respect the ban, and in doing so, increase the overall health on campus.
Some MSU students choose to smoke, but a majority of the MSU community most likely would support a ban on campus because of the well-known health defects of secondhand smoke. The university must consider the health of all of its students, and the detrimental effects smoking can have on everyone’s health.
But if MSU were to ban smoking on campus, the transition could not happen overnight. Smoking is a highly addictive habit that can be difficult to break, so as the campus became smoke-free, MSU should allow a transition period for students to adjust before issuing fines, if this is the punishment route they choose to take.
If MSU decides banning smoking on campus is not feasible, they should consider instead a few designated smoking areas around campus in order to decrease widespread use. With the sheer size of campus, asking students to travel off campus for a cigarette could be inconveniencing them, especially for those who have classes on campus all day.
The university also should promote healthy alternatives to smokers who are trying to quit, and put in place a support system for those who are struggling with the switch. College already is a stressful time for students, and adding the stress of attempting to quit smoking can have an adverse effect on a student’s mental health. Social Norms @ MSU, a marketing program for student health, could assist in reinforcing the positive aspects of quitting and provide suggestions on how to break this expensive, unhealthy habit.
Ultimately, smoking is an expensive habit that can cause severe health issues for both smokers and nonsmokers. Many schools in Michigan already have banned it from their campuses in an effort to promote the health of their students. After all of the research that has shown how debilitating smoking can be, it is time MSU bans it from its borders.
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