Operation Residence Operation Residence HallsHalls A Smoke-Free Policy ProposalA Smoke-Free Policy Proposal for WSU for WSU Students by WSU StudentsStudents by WSU Students

Presented By:Presented By:The HEALTH Student AssociationThe HEALTH Student Association

Operation Residence Operation Residence HallsHalls

The HEALTH Student The HEALTH Student Association proposes a Association proposes a change in policy prohibiting change in policy prohibiting smoking in and around smoking in and around Wichita State University Wichita State University (WSU) residence halls.(WSU) residence halls.

What is the HEALTH What is the HEALTH Student Association?Student Association?

•Student organization formed in the spring of 2005•The purpose of HEALTH is to serve as a community-based association for students working together to improve health education and promote delivery of well diversified and high quality health care •Designated “Campus Tobacco” as the priority focus for the years 2005-2007

Why is policy change Why is policy change necessary?necessary?

The purpose of our policy proposal is The purpose of our policy proposal is to:to:•Prevent initiation of new smokersPrevent initiation of new smokers•Enhance the rights of non-Enhance the rights of non-

smokerssmokers•Reduce destruction to residence Reduce destruction to residence

hallshalls

What do WSU students What do WSU students think about campus think about campus

tobacco?tobacco?• 82.3% would rather date a non-smoker• 77.3% would prefer to socialize in a smoke free environment• 67.4% respect a person more if they have made the decision to

be smoke free• 80.4% think that smoking is a disgusting habit• About ¼ of those surveyed said that people’s smoking habits

have caused problems at WSU• 92.1% agreed that smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health• Approx. ½ of students surveyed think our entire campus should

be tobacco free

Based on the HEALTH Student Association’s 2006 Survey “WSU Student Beliefs and Behaviors Relative to Cigarette Smoking” IRB # 06-

376

Why focus on residence Why focus on residence halls?halls?

• Research has demonstrated that university Research has demonstrated that university residence halls are a successful intervention residence halls are a successful intervention point to prevent smoking initiationpoint to prevent smoking initiation

• The majority of residents at WSU residence The majority of residents at WSU residence halls, particularly the freshmen at Fairmount halls, particularly the freshmen at Fairmount Towers, are making independent health Towers, are making independent health decisions for the first time in their livesdecisions for the first time in their lives

• Smoke-free residence hall policies help Smoke-free residence hall policies help prevent the initiation of cigarette smoking prevent the initiation of cigarette smoking and the rights of the non-smokers are and the rights of the non-smokers are immediately enhancedimmediately enhanced

Some Kansas Some Kansas Universities are Universities are

many steps ahead many steps ahead of WSU!of WSU!

Emporia State UniversityEmporia State University

• Created limited designated Created limited designated smoking spaces on campussmoking spaces on campus

• Prohibits smoking in a 30-foot Prohibits smoking in a 30-foot radius at all buildings including radius at all buildings including residence hallsresidence halls

• Prohibits smoking in residence Prohibits smoking in residence hallshalls

University of KansasUniversity of Kansas

•Designated one smoke-free entrance at each building

•Marked smoke-free areas and prohibited smoking within a twenty foot radius of the entrance to any building

•Prohibits smoking in all Lawrence Campus or Edwards Campus buildings, including residence halls

Kansas State UniversityKansas State University

• Prohibits smoking in any Prohibits smoking in any university building or vehicle university building or vehicle

• Prohibits smoking within 30 Prohibits smoking within 30 feet of marked entrances feet of marked entrances

• Prohibits smoking in all campus Prohibits smoking in all campus housinghousing

Current WSU PolicyCurrent WSU Policy

“ “It is the policy of Wichita It is the policy of Wichita State University to prohibit State University to prohibit smoking in all areas of all smoking in all areas of all

campus buildings including campus buildings including residence halls (except for residence halls (except for designated smoking areas). designated smoking areas).

Smoking is also prohibited in Smoking is also prohibited in University owned vehicles.” University owned vehicles.”

Current Residence Hall Current Residence Hall Policy Policy

““Smoking is prohibited in any public area inside a Smoking is prohibited in any public area inside a Housing and Residence Life facility, including any Housing and Residence Life facility, including any stairwells, hallways, lounges, and the Fairmount stairwells, hallways, lounges, and the Fairmount Tower’s Café. Smoking is also prohibited in Tower’s Café. Smoking is also prohibited in student rooms unless the student applies for and student rooms unless the student applies for and receives a designated smoking room. Students in receives a designated smoking room. Students in these rooms may smoke only with their doors these rooms may smoke only with their doors shut; they many not smoke in the restrooms or shut; they many not smoke in the restrooms or kitchens. In Wheatshocker Apartments, the kitchens. In Wheatshocker Apartments, the second and third floors are smoke-free. Smoking second and third floors are smoke-free. Smoking in designated, individual room/apartments is in designated, individual room/apartments is permitted in Brennan Hall and on the 5permitted in Brennan Hall and on the 5thth floor of floor of Fairmount North.” Fairmount North.”

Residence Hall Policy Residence Hall Policy Continued . . .Continued . . .

““Housing and Residence Life makes every effort to Housing and Residence Life makes every effort to ensure that nonsmokers are not assigned a ensure that nonsmokers are not assigned a roommate or suitemate(s) who smokes unless they roommate or suitemate(s) who smokes unless they have mutually requested each other or unless there have mutually requested each other or unless there is no other room/ apartment available and both is no other room/ apartment available and both students give consent. Extreme caution should be students give consent. Extreme caution should be exercised when smoking. Cigarette butts must not exercised when smoking. Cigarette butts must not be thrown in the trash containers or on hall grounds; be thrown in the trash containers or on hall grounds; please use ashtrays near the entrances. Residents please use ashtrays near the entrances. Residents are asked to refrain from smoking a cigar, pipe, or are asked to refrain from smoking a cigar, pipe, or other form of legal tobacco that they may disturb other form of legal tobacco that they may disturb other residents because of the amount of smoke other residents because of the amount of smoke produced. Additionally, residents are prohibited produced. Additionally, residents are prohibited from using any device that requires the use of from using any device that requires the use of charcoal, lighter fluid, or anything producing an charcoal, lighter fluid, or anything producing an open flame.”open flame.”

HEALTH’s Policy HEALTH’s Policy Proposal RationaleProposal Rationale

Wichita State University is Wichita State University is committed to providing a healthy, committed to providing a healthy, comfortable, and productive comfortable, and productive environment for students, faculty environment for students, faculty and staff of this campus.and staff of this campus.

HEALTH Policy ProposalHEALTH Policy Proposal

The purpose of having a smoke-free The purpose of having a smoke-free housing environment at Wichita housing environment at Wichita State University is to comply with State University is to comply with the campus policy as well as assure the campus policy as well as assure that the rights and welfare of all that the rights and welfare of all non-smokers are protected and to non-smokers are protected and to provide a safe housing environment provide a safe housing environment for all students.for all students.

HEALTH Policy HEALTH Policy Sample StatementSample Statement

It is the policy of Wichita State University It is the policy of Wichita State University that all housing options prohibit smoking. that all housing options prohibit smoking. This includes any public area inside and This includes any public area inside and outside a Housing and Resident Life facility. outside a Housing and Resident Life facility. Smoking is prohibited in all rooms, stairwells, Smoking is prohibited in all rooms, stairwells, hallways, lounges, café, and entrances. hallways, lounges, café, and entrances. Smoking is only allowed in designated, Smoking is only allowed in designated, outdoor smoking areas. The Smoke-Free outdoor smoking areas. The Smoke-Free policy applies to all Wichita State University policy applies to all Wichita State University housing facilities, owned or leased, housing facilities, owned or leased, regardless of location.regardless of location.

HEALTH Policy HEALTH Policy Sample Statement Sample Statement

Continued…Continued… Smoking shall not be permitted in any Smoking shall not be permitted in any

enclosed place, including private residential enclosed place, including private residential space within university housing. This policy space within university housing. This policy applies to all students, faculty, staff and applies to all students, faculty, staff and visitors. Smoking shall occur at a reasonable visitors. Smoking shall occur at a reasonable distance (25 feet or more) outside any distance (25 feet or more) outside any enclosed area where smoking is allowed so as enclosed area where smoking is allowed so as to insure that secondhand smoke does not to insure that secondhand smoke does not enter through entrances, windows, enter through entrances, windows, ventilation systems or any other means.ventilation systems or any other means.

How can this policy How can this policy proposal help the proposal help the University?University?

• The current residence hall policy states that The current residence hall policy states that “Possession or use of candles, other substances “Possession or use of candles, other substances capable of producing an open flame, or incense is capable of producing an open flame, or incense is prohibited at all times…”prohibited at all times…”

• SMOKING CREATES AN OPEN FLAME! In 2004 SMOKING CREATES AN OPEN FLAME! In 2004 alone, lighted tobacco products caused an alone, lighted tobacco products caused an estimated 14,450 residential fires, 520 civilian estimated 14,450 residential fires, 520 civilian deaths, 1,330 injuries, and $371 million in deaths, 1,330 injuries, and $371 million in residential property damage (US Fire residential property damage (US Fire Administration)Administration)

• Reduced maintenance costs, such as painting and Reduced maintenance costs, such as painting and ventilation system costs, are associated with ventilation system costs, are associated with smoke-free environmentssmoke-free environments

If Adopted…If Adopted…

• The HEALTH Student Association will assist with The HEALTH Student Association will assist with the transition the transition

• Copies of the policy will be distributed to all Copies of the policy will be distributed to all students, faculty and staffstudents, faculty and staff

• Announcements will be printed in the WSU Announcements will be printed in the WSU SunflowerSunflower

• ““No Smoking” signs will be purchased and No Smoking” signs will be purchased and posted at the residence hallsposted at the residence halls

• Ashtrays will be removed at any location in the Ashtrays will be removed at any location in the Housing and Resident Life facility where smoking Housing and Resident Life facility where smoking is currently allowedis currently allowed

Recommendations for the Recommendations for the Transition to Smoke-Free Transition to Smoke-Free Residence HallsResidence Halls

• Policy would be announced three Policy would be announced three months prior to implementationmonths prior to implementation

• Campus-based smoking cessation Campus-based smoking cessation programs are already in place and programs are already in place and will be available for students who will be available for students who smoke and want to quitsmoke and want to quit

Recommendations for Recommendations for Enforcing the Smoke-free Enforcing the Smoke-free PolicyPolicy

• Violation of this policy will result in such Violation of this policy will result in such action:action:• 11stst Offense – Citation with a $20 fine by Offense – Citation with a $20 fine by

campus policecampus police• 22ndnd Offense – Citation with $40 fine by campus Offense – Citation with $40 fine by campus

police and a warning with such further actionspolice and a warning with such further actions• 33rdrd Offense – Subjects will be asked to leave Offense – Subjects will be asked to leave

campus housing areas or residents will be campus housing areas or residents will be given a three day written notice of eviction given a three day written notice of eviction from campus housing from campus housing

In Conclusion:In Conclusion:

This policy change would be the first This policy change would be the first phase of a series of policies aimed phase of a series of policies aimed at creating a healthier environment at creating a healthier environment for all WSU students. for all WSU students.

Thank you very much for your Thank you very much for your timetime

Questions?Questions?

Please Click Back Button to Please Click Back Button to Return to Our Website. Return to Our Website.