Tobacco-free campuses trending in the U.S.
The Great American Smokeout, an event held across the country for people who want to quit smoking, came to USU on Thursday, Nov. 21.
“The Great American Smokeout is an event put on throughout the United States for people that want to make this their quit date, to quit tobacco use or to quit smoking,” said Ryan Barfuss, USU prevention specialist.
Barfuss and his fellow Student Health and Wellness Center staff were on the Taggart Student Center Patio handing out information, “quit kits” and promoting a tobacco-free campus.
“We know the national trend throughout the United States is thats where a lot of the universities, the major universities, are heading,” Barfuss said. “A lot of the big universities throughout the United States have already become tobacco-free, yet Utah is kind of struggling along to catch up to that trend. I think we should be one of the ones leading the way.”
Barfuss said they had previously attempted to make the TSC Patio and the area around the Merrill-Cazier Library smoke-free, but they ran into a few roadblocks.
“We’re now trying to get more administration support and, of course, student support,” Barfuss said. “The administration wants it being student led. We have a very strong support with the students to lead the way toward a tobacco-free campus.”
While some students support the idea of a smoke-free campus, others are opposed to the idea. Ted Tompkins, a freshman studying computer science, expressed concerns that the smoking community of USU would be very upset if the smoke-free campus came into effect.
“It’s kind of ridiculous overall,” Tompkins said. “Smokers will find a place to smoke up here.”
He said they at least have to find a place to smoke outside.
“I think the current rule of no smoking within 25 feet of any entrance is sufficient,” said Charles Hopkins, a senior studying agriculture and business. “I don’t think we should impose on people’s rights to smoke outside, whether it be on campus or off campus. I’m not a smoker myself, but I don’t think that is something we can control.”
–zack.oldroyd@aggiemail.usu.edu