Hempstead, NY Vol.78 | Issue 13
The Hofstra
Chronicle
Thursday
February 7, 2013
BUTT OUT Keeping the Hofstra Community informed since 1935
Smoking ban now in effect
Students were greeted with signs to make them aware that smoking has been eliminated from South Campus, such as this one near the library.
By Joe Pantorno Editor-in-Chief
With this new semester comes new rules. After it was voted so in early November by University Senate, Hofstra’s banishment of smoking from the South Campus came into effect when the 2013 spring semester began. One of the main reasons why the ban has been placed, according to Provost Herman Berliner, was due to secondhand smoke and the fact that smokers did not pay attention to the rule stating that all cigarettes must be consumed at least 20 feet away from any building. While secondhand smoke is a growing concern, especially to non-smokers, the ban has been met with mixed reception. “I’m in favor of the smoking ban.
I never had a problem with second hand smoke or anything,” said James Andersen, a sophomore psychology major. “But I know it has bothered a few of my friends in the past and that many people are sensitive to smoke.” Meanwhile, senior dance major Julie Seal thinks the ban is a little too obsessive. “I honestly think the smoking ban is a bit over ambitious and unnecessary. I am not a smoker, and I recognize that secondhand smoke certainly is not the best to have around,” said senior dance major Julie Seal. Seal’s vision is in fact correct, as there have been countless students seen outside the Unispan entrance smoking. They seem
Cody Heintz/The Chronicle
to be meeting this new rule with defiance. “I’m hoping Public Safety stops me,” said one student smoking near the library entrance, who preferred to remain anonymous. “In that case, I can just take out my electric cigarette. Nothing they can do about that.”
students smoking here. They do so sparingly.” But while non-smokers might look negatively towards those that do smoke, there are certain therapeutic values to those that find solace in cigarettes. “I’ve been smoking for two years. It’s a sort of stress relief for me,” said the student smoker. “I’ve been doing work for the past few hours and I just had to get out and have a cigarette.” As students learn that their peers are bending the rules of Hofstra’s new rule, their expectations of the enforcement of the laws seem low. “I’m sure it will be mostly effective but it will take a few weeks to really kick in,” said Andersen.
“I’m hoping Public Safety stops me. In that case, I can just take out my electric cigarette.” While this student smoker was outside in a t-shirt, braving the cold in order to have a cigarette, he was the only one out there. “It’s affected many people,” said the student smoker. “You certainly don’t see as many
Faculty that passed this movement is hopeful to butt out smoking even if it is a slow, gradual change. “It may be ignored but what I think tends to happen over time is that people tend to conform to these most of the time,” said Raymond Greenwell, professor of mathematics, in a Chronicle article about the ban published Dec. 6, 2012. “Overall the South Campus will become more smoke free because of this.” While this ban has not been met with total acceptance, Seal realizes that Hofstra has good intentions. “Kudos to Hofstra for trying preserve the lungs of the student population though, I guess,” she said.