State may nudge public colleges to ban tobacco

A possible campuswide ban on tobacco products at the state’s public colleges and universities could have a significant impact on students because more than a quarter of adults ages 18-to-24 are smokers. James Tuschman, the chairman of the Ohio Board of Regents, told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer that he plans to introduce a resolution later this month asking the state’s public schools to ban tobacco, an effort driven in part by the chief executive of the Cleveland Clinic. The decision to ban tobacco would fall to each school’s Board of Trustees. Of the region’s schools, Cedarville and Miami universities already have campuswide bans.

Smoking is not allowed anywhere on Miami’s campus, while Cedarville doesn’t allow even possession of tobacco products. A Springfield News-Sun survey of regional colleges showed a variety of policies in place, although all ban smoking inside universities buildings. There are differences in the distance smokers must be from building entrances (usually 15 to 25 feet) and availability of specific smoking areas. Clark State Community College is considering a policy that also would ban smokeless tobacco in nonsmoking areas, which most schools do not have in place. “(Smoking) comes up occasionally, but it often has to do with an area looking badly because people are throwing cigarette butts,” said Mark DeVilbiss, Wittenberg University’s associate dean for residence life.

 “We don’t see a lot of violations, we mostly hear about it in terms of litter.” Studying health The Ohio Department of Health last year produced a packet of information and suggestions for schools considering stronger policies against tobacco use. The ODH cited statistics showing that tobacco companies spend $724 million per year to market tobacco products in Ohio. Officials said they hope stronger tobacco policies will curb smoking among students. Nationally, 27 percent of people ages 18-24 are smokers, and 40 percent of college-age smokers began or increased smoking after starting college, according to the ODH. Similar research helped influence Tuschman’s stance on tobacco, he told The Plain Dealer.

A Board of Regents recommendation on tobacco use would be unique because it would enter into the student experience realm of campuses, said Dan Abrahamowicz, vice president for student affairs at Wright State University. “Mostly, they act in areas like switching to semesters or other administrative issues,” he said. “But this is the health dimension, safety dimension, social dimension. They have a concern about the welfare of our campuses, and I think it’s fine to have those suggestions.” Regional schools said they would consider such a recommendation before taking any action. Student smokers said they would adjust if necessary. “It’s not always necessary to smoke,” said Hulays Alzuraya, a 24-year-old Wright State senior from Saudi Arabia. “It’s just that sometimes people are on campus for 12 or 14 hours at a time, so it can help to smoke once or twice.”