The truth about tobacco is that it’s now banned at the townhouses and apartments according to the codes of conduct in the university regulations listed in the Student Handbook.
While smoking has been forbidden in the dormitories and administrative buildings since 2002, the same policy was extended to include the townhouses and apartments this summer by the Dean of Student’s Office in order to remain consistent with the Connecticut state laws banning smoking in restaurants, bars and other public places.
The point that was not resolved was whether or not the townhouses and apartments were considered “dormitories” by the terms of the state law, according to Mark Reed, dean of students.
“I believe that they are,” said Reed.”They are campus residences for students and that was the specific intent of that portion of the state law.”
While townhouse and apartment residents were not specifically notified of the change in policy in their living quarters, Reed said there was ample opportunity for students to learn of the ban.
“The Student Handbook was distributed to all students in print form, so I believe there has been full notification of all behavioral, residential and administrative policies,” Reed said. “With the handbook so easily accessible to all undergraduate students, it was clearly there for all to see.”
The original policy banning smoking in the dormitories and administrative buildings was put into place before the 2002-2003 academic year, a full year before Connecticut passed state laws banning smoking in most public places.
The rationale behind the original ban was primarily the health and safety of students, according to Fran Koerting, director of residence life.
“The reasons were related to health as well as fire safety. Many fires related to college campuses are caused by cigarettes,” she said.
“Although we try to allow the students in the townhouses and apartments more independence than in the residence halls, we have to balance that freedom with the responsibility to minimize the risk of harm for our other residents,” she added.
While the Dean of Students’ Office is responsible for all university policies relating to student life, when the original smoking ban was written, the Office of Residence Life, the Health Center, the Public Safety Department, FUSA and UNITE also gave advice and input to the policy change.
Reed said that during the addition of new policies, the university tries to involve the student population through its representation in the student government.
However, there was no debate about extending the ban to include the townhouses and apartments because of the Connecticut statutes.
“In the case of a state or federal law dictating policy, we are obligated to put it into effect. That was certainly the case with smoking,” said Reed.
He sympathized with any students who may feel frustrated by the ban but added, “We live in a society governed by laws that hopefully benefit society as a whole even though they may not benefit each of us individually.”
Paul Duffy, FUSA president, thought the ban struck a happy medium between smokers and non-smokers, especially those residing in the same house.
“I think that you have a deck in which you can walk right outside your house to smoke. It keeps the house cleaner and smells much better,” he said.
Many students, however, are not feeling the burn of the ban and support the no-smoking rule in the townhouses.
Jesse Cushman ’06, a townhouse resident, is a supporter of the ban.
“Well, I think it would be good anyway because I hate smoke,” he said. “When you walk into a townhouse and smell smoke it’s nasty.”
Ray Radulski ’05, a fellow townhouse resident, agreed with Cushman.
“I think it’s a good idea because of the indoor pollution, like the tar from cigarettes,” he said.
So, while all the smokers must brave the elements come winter to inhale, the rest of Fairfield will be enjoying a smoke-free environment.
Leave a Reply