University of Michigan smoking ban starts Friday
Smoking is prohibited at the University of Michigan as of today.
The campus-wide ban, which was years in the making, means students, employees and visitors can't light up.
The University of Michigan's smoking ban takes effect today.
However, that doesn't mean that U-M's Department of Public Safety issue tickets under the new policy.
Instead, compliance is voluntary. It will be enforced via signs and the idea people on campus will respect the ban, or respectfully ask smokers to stamp out their cigarettes. Repeated violations of the ban could lead to a workplace violation for an employee or disenrollment of a student under already in-place disciplinary procedures.
People who find others smoking on campus could initiate a disciplinary process by filing a complaint against individuals who defy the new rule.
Punishment is not the point, university officials said. It's meant to increase the overall health of the campus and save on health care costs.
Juliana Keeping covers general assignment and health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
a2miguy
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 6:28 p.m.
"...or respectfully ask smokers to stamp out their cigarettes" Now THAT'S a joke. The small handful of times I have ever been asked to extinguish a cigarette, the person doing so has been as rude as they can possibly be. They are intentionally rude about it and clearly take delight in complaining. I am very mindful about not smoking in the presence of anyone whom I think it might bother. I am not one to gather with the smoking crowd around a doorway, but rather I try to get away from others when I can. I realize not everyone is so considerate, but always try my best to be. Last March, as I was exiting Crisler after a thrilling beat-down of MSU, I lit up a smoke when I got outside, as did many others. I crossed thru the south end of the stadium grounds, and not being a football game day, I momentarily forgot that I was in an area where smoking is not allowed. A very rude woman started yelling at me. "YOU BETTER PUT THAT OUT! THIS CAMPUS IS SMOKE-FREE!!" Stunned, I simply said "oops, I forgot" and I put my cigarette out. (For those who are thinking I littered, I did not. I snubbed it out on the ground and carried the butt out with me and put it in the garbage.) This woman then continued to scold me. "YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT ANYWAY. IT'S BAD FOR YOU. AND IT SURE DOES STINK!!" At this point, I'd had enough and yelled back at the woman that I did what she asked and that it was unnecessary to be so rude. This is the typical non-smoker. They do not "respectfully ask" anything. They yell. They belittle. They're rude. And worse, they ENJOY it. So.... for those of you wondering how this new ban will be enforced? Easy. Just walk through the diag or anywhere else on campus with a lit cigarette. Guaranteed the smoking patrol, wallowing nearby in their indignance, will be on you like white on rice.
Another Michael
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 6:37 p.m.
I had to laugh when reading the "suggested scripts" (<a href="http://www.med.umich.edu/i/mworks/pdf/supervisor/script-card.pdf)" rel='nofollow'>http://www.med.umich.edu/i/mworks/pdf/supervisor/script-card.pdf)</a>. I'm going to request my Smoke-Free Environment Pocket Cards right now!
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 3:59 p.m.
I don't even smoke and I think this is going too far. Outdoor second hand smoke isn't more dangerous than car emissions. It is just annoying but not any more annoying than people who wear perfume. At some point, can't we try to be more tolerant of other people? Or else if we are going to allow people to ban other people's annoying behaviors, I would like the UofM to ban Republicans from campus ;)
SemperFi
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 1:49 p.m.
Hooray! Secondhand smoke outdoors is extremely annoying and harmful. When a group of smokers gather at the entrance to a building, it forces me to inhale their smoke as I enter or leave. And I still see smokers who routinely toss their filters on the ground when there are receptacles nearby. I suppose if you think I'm being petty, then you won't mind swimming through an area of a public pool where someone just urinated. Kind of the same thing.
Another Michael
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 6:38 p.m.
Ignatz: When it comes to cigarette smoke, outrage is a suitable substitute for data. Did you miss the memo?
Ignatz
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 5:04 p.m.
SemperFi, I've been waiting for some data regarding the harm outdoor secondhand smoke causes. Do you have any research on that?
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 4:02 p.m.
Do you drive a car? If so, you are forcing me to inhale your automobile emissions. I guess you don't mind swimming through an area of a public pool where someone has just urinated because it is kind of the same thing. (on a side note: any public pool that allows children pretty much is guaranteed to have pee in it. So anyone who swims in a public pool already is swimming with pee. It isn't as bad as you might think)
Ignatz
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 1:48 p.m.
Yeah, "Punishment is not the point...", but "Repeated violations of the ban could lead to a workplace violation for an employee or disenrollment of a student under already in-place disciplinary procedures." In addition to that, "People who find others smoking on campus could initiate a disciplinary process by filing a complaint against individuals who defy the new rule." Given the above, how can compliance be voluntary? Another victory for the put-upon whiner nation we are quickly becoming.
Another Michael
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 1:10 p.m.
"Punishment is not the point, university officials said. It's meant to increase the overall health of the campus and save on health care costs." It's meant to impose new artificial costs on smokers to harry them into quitting. Outdoors, secondhand smoke isn't any more dangerous or annoying than dozens of other common pollutants. One can agree or disagree with the University's method and goal, but let's at least see it for what it is.
Another Michael
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.
johnnya2: Your response demonstrates my point very nicely. Thank you. "The U does not allow alcoholic beverages on their property either." Are you sure? (<a href="http://www.umich.edu/~spolicy/studentalcoholdrug.html#2)" rel='nofollow'>http://www.umich.edu/~spolicy/studentalcoholdrug.html#2)</a> There are real externalities associated with smoking in confined spaces: it presents a health risk, particularly to people with breathing problems, and it can cause property damage. Indoor smoking bans can be rationally tied to limiting these dangers. Outdoors, cigarette smoke isn't so terribly different than the emissions of an idling vehicle or smelly food cart. If one thinks smoking is disgusting and ought to be banned, he or she should have the courage to say so. Hiding behind vague statements about promoting health is cowardly, in my opinion.
johnnya2
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 3:14 p.m.
Smokers should have extra costs associated with their disgusting addiction. The U does not allow alcoholic beverages on their property either. I guess that is just to impose "artificial costs" onto a drinker?
John A2
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 12:34 p.m.
Now that's funny stuff!