Six years ago, the campus adopted a policy for a smoke-free environment. The
basic tenets of the policy are that smoking is prohibited: a) in all indoor
areas of non-residential buildings; b) in common areas of residential buildings
(such as lounges, waiting areas, and restrooms); c) in the outside areas beside
building doorways, windows, and ventilation air intakes, including patios
underneath building windows; and d) in all University-owned vehicles. In
addition, the policy bans the sale of tobacco products on campus. The policy
also states that outside areas near a building *may* be designated as smoking
areas provided that smoke will not enter the building, it is not a thoroughfare
for nonsmokers, and there are ashcans available for cigarette disposal.
Although the policy has been in effect for six years, current compliance with the regulations is sporadic. Students, especially, are either unaware of the policy or not interested in abiding by it. Since smoking in the student population has increased dramatically in the past decade, this lack of compliance has resulted in a great deal of second-hand smoke surrounding (and entering) building doors, windows, and air intake vents. Contact with this smoke can be an irritant for some, but poses a serious health hazard for others, especially those with allergies, asthma, and other pulmonary or immune system disorders. Many non-smokers are increasingly frustrated, not only by smokers ignoring the policy, but also by the lack of enforcement. Smokers, on the other hand, report being harassed by non-smokers for smoking in outside areas. Designated smoking areas were created near many campus buildings six years ago, but few now have signs indicating their existence.
A student with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities filed an informal grievance against the campus earlier this year under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); the student was suffering serious physical effects from walking through groups of smokers to get to classes. The basis of the grievance was that UCSC is not enforcing its own smoking policy. As the ADA Compliance Officer responsible for facilities access, I found that adherence to the policy could be improved by clearly marking designated smoking areas, increasing the number of those areas, and informing the campus community about the policy. To assess the number and efficacy of current smoking areas, and to recommend improvements to these areas, a task force was created. The task force also discussed a number of ways to improve adherence to the campus smoking policy; a list of recommendations is included in a report on the status of the policy which will be presented to the Chancellor's Advisory Council in the next few months. While I can't give you specifics before the report is presented to the Chancellor, I can tell you that the report deals with enforcement, publicity, the problem of ashtrays at building entries (necessary for litter, but often seen as "permission to smoke"), solutions for two of the worst problem areas on campus (Earth and Marine Sciences and the Classroom Unit building), and the concept of sheltered smoking areas.
It is hoped that by following these recommendations, a "culture change" can be effected on this campus: everyone will know where smoking is allowed, smokers can smoke there without being harassed, and non-smokers will know that they can, with few exceptions, avoid contact with second-hand smoke if they so choose. Such a shift in thinking will take several years, but will significantly help UCSC to become a smoke-free environment.
Susan Willats, ADA Compliance Officer
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Last modified October 23, 2003
Buddy Morris, Director, Environmental Health and Safety, UC Santa Cruz, bmorris@ucsc.edu.