University of Texas Tobacco-Free Policy Elicits Strong Reactions

By: Rachel Konig

Austin, TexasSeconds after crossing Guadalupe Street onto The University of Texas at
Austin campus, Tobacco Free Campus signs become visible to not only the campus
community but also to the public. Strangely enough, cigarette butts that litter the
sidewalk are also in plain sight. These cigarette butts represent violations of the Tobacco
Free Campus Policy that was instituted at the University on April 9, 2012.

Sophomore Molly Aaron, a non-smoker, relates personally to the Tobacco-Free Policy.
Its inconsiderate Aaron says, When I notice people on campus smoking, I think its
gross because my aunt smokes a lot and its not enjoyable to smell or generally be
around. [Smokers] are ruining the environment and make me feel uncomfortable when
they blow the smoke at me or as I walk behind them. I would want posters hung up
representing throat cancer or any cancer involved with smoking all around campus
showing what they are doing to themselves and what they can do to prevent it.

Published on the University Policies webpage, the idea of a tobacco-free campus began in
1991 when UT adopted a no-smoking policy that banned smoking in all university
buildings. The decision to prohibit smoking not only in buildings but also on all
University property, including sidewalks and parking lots, was made in 2012 when the
Cancer Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) announced future funding of research would
be contingent on certification of an entitys adopted tobacco-free policies. Because of
the Universitys commitment to staying tobacco-free, it has since become a recipient of
CPRIT funds for cancer research.

Russell Jones, a sophomore at UT, has been smoking for 18 years and therefore had a lot
to say about this policy: Its bull****, I get the no smoking in buildings but the campus
is majorly outdoors. I try to step off campus when I smoke but because I work at the
[Darrell K Royal] Stadium, it is difficult to find enough time on my breaks to go off
campus just to smoke and come back in time. He proposed placing ashtrays outside each
building on campus as an attempt to minimize littering of cigarette butts and believes that
the smoking community would utilize the trays.

Although instituting ashtrays could be a solution to the littering aspect of smoking,
secondhand smoke is a factor to consider because it goes against the fact that the Policy
was instituted in order to maintain a healthy environment, as stated on the Tobacco-Free
Campus webpage. This is important because according to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), adults who have never smoked can develop heart disease and lung
cancer simply by exposure to secondhand smoke. In fact, the CDC finds secondhand
smoke causes more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths annually.

Included in the Policy, there are suggestions of how to go about approaching people who
are violating the policy. These instructions are utilized by those in the University
community who are passionate about ending tobacco usage on campus by eagerly
approaching smokers and request they put out their cigarette. Adrienne Howarth-Moore,
Director of Human Resources at UT, is among those who are confident approaching
members of the smoking community: Respectfully make smokers aware of the policy
and politely ask them to dispose of the product. From her experience approaching
people violating the policy, Howarth-Moore notices that most people arent aware of the
policy, but are appreciative of the notification and usually comply.

By instituting this policy, as stated on the Tobacco-Free Campus webpage, the University
aims to maintain a healthy and sustainable environment for all members and guests of
the campus community. With Howarth-Moores example of individual approach,
education and awareness of the policy will eventually bring tobacco usenamely,
smokingon campus to a stop.